The Comparison Of Madhyamaka Philosophy Between Tsongkhapa And Chi-tsang

Madhyamaka philosophy, also known as Midway philosophy, is one the primary aspects in mahayana Buddhism. Tsongkhapa (1357 - 1419) has long been recognized as the greatest reformer in Tibetan Buddhism history; and his teaching on madhyamaka philosophy is representative of the Tibetan Buddhism. On the other hand, Chi-tsang (549-623) was the key figure in the revival of Chinese Madhyamaka in the late sixth century, and his work marked the summit of Madhyamaka philosophy in the Han culture. Studying the differences between these two philosophers can potentially offer key insights into the diversity of Tibetan and Han Buddhism, however relatively little has been done to compare their work.This thesis attempts to compare the Madhyamaka philosophy between Tsonghkapa and Chi-tsang from the following aspects: dependent-arising and emptiness, the middle way, the two truths, the presentation style and the ideals of practice.