Schemes of Doctrinal Classification Using the “Five Tastes” in Facong’s<i> Annotation of the Commentary on the Pure Land Contemplation Sūtra</i> 釈観無量寿仏経記

Abstract

In this paper, I consider the schemes of doctrinal classification by Facong 法聡 （d.u.）, a disciple of Zhanran 湛然 （711-782）, who formally and graphically analyzed the several preceding schemes of doctrinal classification based on the metaphor of the five tastes of milk in the Nirvāṇa Sūtra. Similar theories can be found in the works of other disciples of Zhanran, such as Xingman 行滿 and Mingkuang 明曠. This paper concludes that the tendency among Zhanran’s disciples identified in this paper, the tendency to formulate and illustrate the schemes of doctrinal classification, is related to Zhanran’s revival movement in Tiantai Buddhism.