Vajra Scalpel Commentary (金剛錍科)

About 金剛錍科

Song · by 淨岳撰

2,288 · about 8 min

The "Jingang Pi Ke" is a subcommentary by the Song Dynasty Tiantai master Jing Yue on the important Tiantai treatise "Jingang Pi" (Diamond Scalpel) authored by the Tang Dynasty master Zhanran. Completed in the Song Dynasty, this work aims to elucidate the Tiantai doctrine of inherent nature, systematically arguing for the theory that insentient beings possess Buddha-nature in response to contemporary Buddhist debates over whether insentient things have Buddha-nature. Through structured analysis and sectioning, Jing Yue clarifies the original text's flow and deeply expounds the profound meaning of the perfect teaching—that true suchness and Buddha-nature pervade all phenomena. This work is not only an authoritative interpretation of Zhanran's original treatise but also an important document for studying Song Dynasty Tiantai philosophy, particularly the development of the inherent nature doctrine following the debates between the "Home Mountain" and "Off Mountain" schools. It holds a prominent place in the construction and transmission of the Tiantai theoretical system.