The Ximing Temple was an important Temple in Chang’an during the Tang Dynasty. Various eminent monks came from the Ximing branch of Buddhism, many of whom were masters of the Chan, Vinaya, "Idealistic"(Dharma Character School) and Dharmalaksana schools of Buddhist thought. Among the numerous disciples of Xuan Zang from the Ximing branch,many were inclined to use"Mahayana" as part of their title, such as "Mahayana Guang" and "Mahayana Deng." What is the relation between these titles and Mahayana culture; is there any relation between these titles and Xuan Zang himself ? Focusing on the Mahayana monks and Mahayana Chan practitioners of Dunhuang, regarding which historical record can be found in the inscriptions of donors in the Mogao caves, this paper discusses the relation between these two groups of practitioners as well as the academic links that connect them, and attempts to reach a conclusion about the origins of their titles and the level of connectivity between the two groups.el of connectivity between the two groups.
