The formation of Buddhist theoretical characteristics has an important relationship with ancient Indian caste system.The main founders and original followers of early Buddhism usually had a negative attitude towards the caste system which had a great influence on ancient Indian society,and explicitly rejected the social inequality formed under caste system. This exerts a direct influence on the pluralistically-oriented theories,such as theories of dependent origination,five skandhas,no-self and impermanence. Even after its spreading into many countries outside India,Buddhism still stressed the equality of all living beings and many corresponding theories. Therefore,in order to understand the causes of some important theories of Buddhism,we should study the social development form or basic structure in ancient India in the period of early Buddhism.
