In Chinese Buddhism, the Tiantai- and Huayam-schools are famous for its sophisticated construction of systematic theory. Their methods of contemplation, includes the doctrine of the ‘Three Contemplations'. According to the Tientai, this includes Emptiness Contemplation, Provisional Positing Contemplation, and Intersubsumption Contemplation. The Huayan-doctrine embraces the three contemplations of Emptiness, the Interpenetration of Phenomenon and Principle, the Interpenetrating of all Phenomena. What are the respective characteristics of the two doctrines? What is the relationship between those two types of ”Three Contemplations”? Does the difference or relationship involve a notion of classifying the Buddhist sutras? These are questions which will be discussed in this paper.
