Guifeng Zongmi

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Guifeng Zongmi (J. Keihō Shūmitsu; K. Kyubong Chongmil 圭峰宗密) (780–841) was a Tang dynasty Buddhist scholar who is considered a patriarch of both the Huayan and Chan schools of Chinese Buddhism. Zongmi wrote a number of works on several Mahayana sutras, Chan and Huayan, and he also discussed Daoism and Confucianism. His works are a major source for studying the various Chan schools of the Tang era.

Zongmi was deeply interested in both the practical and doctrinal aspects of Mahayana Buddhism, especially the teachings of the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment and the Mahayana Awakening of Faith. Zongmi's work is concerned with harmonizing the various Chan teachings (especially the doctrines of sudden awakening and original enlightenment) with other Chinese Buddhist traditions, especially Huayan, though he also drew on the work of Tiantai Zhiyi in his ritual works. His philosophy attempts to create a comprehensive worldview that includes and sublimates all Buddhist and non-buddhist teachings of his time into a single harmonious spiritual vision.

Further reading

• Guifeng Zongmi, Wikipedia

Sources

• Gregory, Peter N. (2002), Tsung-mi and the Sinification of Buddhism, University of Hawai’i Press, Kuroda Institute, (originally published Princeton University Press, 1991, Princeton, N.J.)