Tang · by 湛然述
94,063 · about 314 min
The *Treatise on Five Hundred Questions Concerning the Lotus Sutra*, composed by the eminent Tang dynasty monk Zhanran, is a vital doctrinal work of the Tiantai school. Structured in a question-and-answer format, this text delves profoundly into the profound meaning of the *Lotus Sutra*, systematically posing and resolving five hundred questions regarding difficult points in the scripture, thereby centrally reflecting the perfect teaching philosophy of the Tiantai tradition. Created during the zenith of Chinese Buddhism, its purpose was to dispel doubts, reveal the correct doctrine, and protect the true Dharma. As a core text of Tiantai pedagogy, it not only consolidated the doctrinal system of Master Zhiyi but also exerted a profound influence on later generations' understanding of such teachings as the Threefold Contemplation in a Single Mind found in the *Lotus Sutra*. It is revered as an essential guide for studying Tiantai śamatha-vipaśyanā (calming and insight).