ACKERMANAt a glance
History, context & interpretation
The text and its story
Teaches 'one vehicle' to enlightenment through parables such as the burning house. It is the core text of Tiantai, Tendai and Nichiren Buddhism.
Traditional attribution
Preached by the Buddha on Vulture Peak.
Historical scholarship
Composed in stages by Mahayana authors; most read in Kumarajiva's Chinese translation of 406 CE.
Context and curiosity
Nichiren Buddhists chant its title: Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō.
Chronology and transmission
This text belongs to Buddhism (India; East Asia). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as c. 100 BCE – 200 CE and original language or script as Sanskrit; Chinese. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.
Sources and further reading
Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.
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