The nature of Buddha and the Middle Way concept in teaching of the School of Chinese Buddhism San-Lun

Abstract

  This article explores the philosophical system of the School of Chinese Buddhism San-Lun, as well as continuity of traditions of the Indian School Madhyamaka (one of the two schools of Mahayana along with Yogachara) in China. The teaching of San-Lun is based on the doctrines of Sunyavada and declaration of the principle of the middle way. The founder of San-Lun School in China monk Chi-tsang not only developed the concept of two truths, but also advanced the theories of three and four types of the two truths. The object of this research is the soteriological concept of the Middle Way through the prism of Buddha, which represents the peculiarity of the philosophical system of San-Lun in the context of Chinese Buddhism. San-Lun is the Chinese version of Madhyamaka School of Indian Buddhism. In the history of establishment of the trend Mahayana – Madhyamaka – in China it was of crucial importance to fill the gaps in translations from Sanskrit to Chinese language. The key role in this process played the prominent translator Kumārajīva, who translated the texts that have become fundamental for this school, and thus, created the theoretical framework for the Chinese scholars to study the teaching of Madhyamaka. The article examines the core philosophical concept of San-Lun: the doctrine of two truths and the concept of “eight negations”. Analysis is conducted on the concept of the nature of Buddha in San-Lun teaching, which demonstrates the introduction of the new understanding of Madhyamaka and determines the degree of scientific novelty.