A special characteristic of Sŭngjang’s 勝莊 Pŏmmanggyŏng sulgi 梵網經述記 is its quotation from the Yogācārabhūmi 瑜伽師地論 and its use of the five gotra theory 五性各別説. The use of the Yogācārabhūmi is also seen in Ŭijŏk’s 義寂 Posal kyebon so 菩薩戒本疏. However, Sŭngjang did not use the Yogācārabhūmi in order to explain the Fanwang jing 梵網経, but to position the Yogācārabhūmi and embrace the Fanwang jing. Earlier commentaries described those who undertook precepts with reference to the expression that “All Sentient Beings Possess Buddha-nature” found in the Mahāparinirvāṇa sūtra 大般涅槃経. But, Sŭngjang used the five gotra theory to distinguish into categories those who undertook initiation. This is an important issue in determining the location of Sŭngjang in the history of Fanwang jing annotations. As such, Sŭngjang’s Pŏmmanggyŏng sulgi has a different way of explaining than previous commentaries. This is a different view from the Dharma-characteristics school 法相宗 of Silla, and thus requires comparison with Ŭijŏk and Taehyŏn 太賢. In this study, I examine the Pŏmmanggyŏng sulgi in detail to reveal the differences from previous commentaries.
