Orthodox Lineage of the Śākyas (釋門正統)

About 釋門正統

Song · by 宗鑑集

146,066 · about 487 min

The *Shimen Zhengtong*, also known as the *Zongjian Ji*, was compiled by the Southern Song monk Zongjian during the Lizong Jiāxī era. It is one of the earliest extant Chinese Buddhist historical works compiled with a "legitimate lineage" perspective. The content covers the transmission history of Buddhism from Śākyamuni to the Southern Song, including the origins of various schools, key figures, and important events. Its aim was to clarify and establish the Tiantai school as the mainstream lineage of Chinese Buddhism. The book is structured into sections such as "Basic Annals," "Hereditary Houses," "Various Treatises," and "Biographies," following the style of official dynastic histories. It holds a pioneering position in Buddhist historiography and provides important documentary evidence for the study of Chinese Buddhist history, particularly the history of the Tiantai school. Its influence on later Buddhist historical compilations has been profound.