Fazang’s theory of zhenru真如 (Skt. tathatā) and zhongxing 種姓 (Skt. gotra): with a focus on the influence of the Ratnagotravibhāga

ABSTRACT Fazang 法藏 (643–712) greatly valued the Jiujing yisheng baoxing lun 究竟一乘寶性論 [Skt. Ratnagotravibhāga] and the Pusa dichi jing 菩薩地持經, which played a very significant role in Fazang’s theory of tathatā 真如, especially his theory of Huayan xingqi 華嚴性起 (Arising of nature on Huayan). Similarly, Fazang’s theory of zhongxing 種姓 (Skt. gotra) used the Jiujing yisheng baoxing lun and the Pusa dichi jing as its foundation. Fazang is one of the most significant figures when discussing the origin and history of rulai zang yuanqi 如來藏緣 (dependent arising of Buddha essence) and zhenru yuanqi 真如緣起 (dependent arising of thusness) in Chinese Buddhist history. Therefore, Fazang’s quotes and explanations of the Jiujing yisheng baoxing lun are a necessary step towards the resolution of this difficult problem. Fazang supported the standpoint of the classical Chinese translation of the Ratnagotravibhāga to demonstrate that the Avataṃsaka sūtra 華嚴經 is the real resource and foundation of the xingqi 性起 (arising of nature) theory of his thoughts on Huayan 華嚴.