Saicho^ （767-822） the founder of the Japanese Tendai school 天台宗. His involvement with Buddhism began at the age of 12， when he became the disciple of Gyo^hyo^ 行表 of Kokubunji 国分寺 temple in o^mi 近江， receiving initial instruction in the disciplines of the Northern school of Ch'an. He formally entered the sangha at 14， and after receiving the full precepts at the age of 19 at To^daiji 东大寺， he moved on to Mt. Hiei 比睿山 where he pursued the practice of meditation and the study of Huayan. But he was most enamored with the teachings of T'ien-t'ai， to which he became acquainted through the readings of the texts of Chih-i 智顗;. His reputation as a scholar-monk spread to the extent that he was offered the opportunity for a temporary travel grant from the emperor Kammu to study Buddhism in Tang China for the purpose of settling on a form of Buddhism appropriate for Japan. He embarked in 804， in a fleet of ships which also carried his famous colleague Ku^kai 空海. In China， Saicho^ became the pupil of the Niutou 牛头 Chan master Hsiao-jan 翛禅. He studied Tiantai under Daosui 道邃， Zhenyan （Jap. Shingon 真言） under Shunxiao 顺晓， none of which had yet existed as independent sects in Nara. He returned to Japan the following year， and in 806， officially established the Japanese Tendai sect. But although mostly influenced by Tendai doctrine， he also had， through his relationship with Ku^kai， a strong interest in Shingon， and so his own system tended to be a blend of teachings. Saicho^ spend the remainder of his days in the propagation of his own understanding of Buddhism in and around the Mt. Hiei area， but meeting with frequent opposition from the earlier established schools， especially in regard to reforms that he attempted， as he sought to rationalize some of the Maha^ya^na ordination ceremonies. He wrote prolifically， some of his more important works being the Shugo kokkaisho^ 守护国界章， the Hokkeshu^ku 法华秀句 and the Kenkai ron 显戒论. . Translated by Xuanzang 玄奘 in 649 at Dacien Monastery. One fascicle， T 691. The Buddha explains the merits of the three reliances 三归， five precepts 五戒， and complete precepts 具足戒 for a^nanda 阿难. Full title is 佛说最无比经.