Interpretations Of Tiantai Buddhism From Seven Metaphors In Lotus Sutra

As the main method of expressing the Buddhism,parables embody the following ideas though Seven Metaphors in Lotus Sutra: One of big vehicular thought,All things ultimate reality,Opening the expedient teachings and revealing the true one,Telling now story to display far accomplishments.These thoughts are closely related to the Tiantai Buddhism,such as Perfect integration of Threefold Truth,Threefold Contemplation in One Mind,Teachings of Five Periods and Eight Forms.The paper is to interpret Tiantai Buddhism though Seven Metaphors in the sutra,theory,practice,consequence etc.This paper is divided into five chapters.Chapter 1 introduces the thought of Lotus Sutra and the role of Seven Metaphors in Lotus Sutra.Chapter 2 interprets the doctrine of “Opening the Threefold Conventional Teachings to Reveal the One Truth”by discussing the Burning House.Chapter 3 talks about “Teachings of Five Periods and Eight Forms” of Tiantai doctrine system though the Poor Son and the Medicinal Herbs.Chapter 4 proclaims the provisional teachings and truth though the Varial Town,and directly reveals the reality though the Pearls and Jewels in Clothes.The two metaphors show how the Buddha enacted the provisional teachings and led all human beings into “All things ultimate reality”.Chapter 5 uses the Pearl in Hair Worn in a Bun and the Doctor’s Son to explain “One Vehicle Truth”.