林志欽=Lin, Chih-chin; Doctrinal Taxonomy; 三教=Threefold Teaching; 天台宗; 五時教; 判教=教判=classification of Buddhist teachings; 南北朝=Southern and Northern Dynasties; Tien Tai School; Five Period Teaching
The ‘division of the Buddha’s teachings’ is a special characteristic of Chinese Buddhism. From the period of the Southern and Northern Dynasties the development started and culminated with Master Chili Che’s teaching of the ‘southern three, northern seven’ schools. There were different explanations of Master Chih Che’s thought. After a critical study of them, he chose the most appropriate schools to fit in with Tien Tai thought. He strove to understand and research the important literary contributions of the divisions of the time. The Tien Tai school could be said to have strictly incorporated the divisions of the time into a more systematic teaching. By doing this, they created an important and representative philosophy of the divisions in Chinese thought. This article wishes to take a look at the ‘divisions of Buddha’s teachings’ during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It would also like to investigate Master Chih-Che’s treatment of the different schools and look at how he systematized them.
