Song · by 慧洪造 張商英撰
87,044 · about 290 min
The Combined Commentary on the Lotus Sutra was jointly composed by the renowned Song dynasty monk Huihong and the chancellor Zhang Shangying. This commentary emerged during the flourishing of Buddhist doctrinal studies in the Northern Song period, serving as an authoritative exegesis on the "Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma." Its content deeply elucidates core teachings such as the One Vehicle of Ultimate Reality, the opening of provisional means to reveal the true teaching, and the true aspect of all phenomena, integrating philosophical inquiry with practical guidance. Esteemed highly in Buddhist history, this commentary is regarded as a vital bridge to understanding the comprehensive and harmonious thought of the Lotus Sutra. It exerted profound influence on later Tiantai Buddhism and the engagement of scholar-officials with Buddhist practice, standing as a key text for studying the integration of Buddhist thought in the Song dynasty.