The Pañca-dharma and the Dharma-kaya associated with Ri (_??_) and Chi (_??_)

Abstract

Gyoshin, who belonged to the Hosso-shu in the Nara era, had a peculiar view of hosshin (_??__??_, dharma-kaya) that was associated with ri (_??_) and chi (_??_). In the Ninnokyosho, he postulated that ri-hosshin (_??__??__??_) had the nature of shinnyo (_??__??_, tathata) and chi-hosshin (_??__??__??_) had the nature of shichi (_??__??_, catvarijnanani). However, it has never been reported that Gyoshin possesses a view such as the one indicated above. A background of his thinking can be found in Huizhao's Jinguangming zuishengwang jingshu. Huizhao described the Dharmakaya of the Jinguangming zuishengwang jing through the words ri and chi, and equated it with the Dharmakaya in the broader perspective of Chengweishi lun whose nature was explained to be like that of the five elements (_??__??_, panca-dharma).