This "Essentials of the Eight Schools" gives a concise account of the history and doctrines of the eight principal Buddhist schools in existence in Japan at the time of the author，i.e. the six schools which were introduced to Japan during the Nara Period and the two schools introduced by Saicho and Kukai during the Heian Period. This work may thus be described as an introduction to Japanese Buddhism.
Fascicle 1 contains a preface and accounts of the Kusha, Jojitsu and Discipline Schools, and Fascicle 2 deals with the Hosso，Sanron，Tendai，Kegon and Shingon Schools, followed by brief comments on the Zen and Pure Land Schools.
The work takes the format of questions and answers, discussing such subjects as the name，basic scriptures, lines of transmission，and doctrines of each school. Since a brief history of the transmission of Buddhism from India via China to Japan is also included，it serves in fact as a very handy exposition of Japanese Buddhism.
