The Saṃmitīya School

AnonymousJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJan 2021

3.3

Word count: 15K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

The book focuses on the relationship between rebirth after death and karma, positing rebirth within the desire realm, the form realm, and the intermediate existence between them. To establish its own doctrinal position and the subject of transmigration, it draws on sutra teachings to delineate the boundaries between the theories of self and non-self, and further discusses the identity and difference of person and aggregates, and the questions of permanence and impermanence, including the divergent doctrines and critiques of other schools and non-Buddhist traditions. For scholars studying the 'self' and 'non-self' issues in sectarian Buddhism, this treatise is an indispensable reference.

Editor's review

This book is an important document for the study of Buddhist sectarian thought. It unfolds around the relationship between rebirth after death and karma, systematically tracing the arguments for rebirth in the realm of desire, the realm of form, and the intermediate existence, and uses scriptural teachings to clarify the boundary between the 'self' theory and the 'no-self' theory. Its value lies not in accessibility but in presenting the subtle debates within sectarian Buddhism over the subject of rebirth, the relationship between the aggregates and the person, and permanence and impermanence, while also addressing the differing doctrines and objections of other schools and non-Buddhist traditions. Reading it, one clearly feels the scholastic style of argument advancing layer by layer; it is suitable as reference material for thematic study rather than casual reading. Read alongside research on the history of sectarian Buddhism and Abhidharma, it better reveals where the questions came from and where the divergences lie. The book is dense with terminology; it is advisable first to grasp the basic definitions of concepts such as 'intermediate existence,' 'aggregates,' and 'self' before entering the specific arguments, so as to appreciate its scholarly weight.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars studying the 'self' and 'no-self' questions in sectarian Buddhism
Buddhist readers practicing Abhidharma and concerned with arguments about the subject of rebirth
Graduate students in religious studies using it as material for thematic study
Advanced readers interested in the methods of Buddhist doctrinal debate

Not a good fit for

Readers new to Buddhist doctrine who lack basic terminology
General readers hoping for an easy story-form introduction to the idea of rebirth
Skimmers unwilling to examine argumentative logic and seeking quick conclusions

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and conclusions first to grasp the book's argumentative framework and core questions.
Keep a Buddhist dictionary at hand; when encountering terms such as 'intermediate existence,' 'aggregates,' and 'self,' look up definitions before reading on.
Read closely in sections following the order of rebirth in the realm of desire, the realm of form, and intermediate existence, taking notes on the argument structure.
Read alongside relevant chapters on the history of sectarian Buddhism to understand the background and divergences of the various schools' differing doctrines.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

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FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no background to read directly?

Not really. The book centers on scriptural argumentation and inter-sectarian debate, with dense terminology and arguments advancing layer by layer; readers lacking basic Buddhist concepts may get stuck at terms such as 'intermediate existence,' 'aggregates,' and 'self.' It is advisable first to acquire basic Buddhist teachings and common Abhidharma knowledge before entering this book; otherwise it is easy to read it as a pile of scattered terms.

What is the core question discussed in this book?

The core is the relationship between rebirth after death and karma, argued around rebirth in the realm of desire, the realm of form, and the intermediate existence of the two realms, thereby establishing its own school's doctrine and the subject of rebirth, and distinguishing the boundary between the self theory and the no-self theory. It further discusses the sameness and difference of the person and the aggregates, and permanence and impermanence, while also addressing the differing doctrines and objections of other schools and non-Buddhist traditions.

Does reading this book require other materials?

It is advisable to read it alongside basic works on the history of sectarian Buddhism and Abhidharma. The book's debate partners are mostly other sects and non-Buddhist doctrines; without understanding the background of these ideas, it is easy to see only conclusions without knowing whom they target. A Buddhist dictionary also helps and reduces terminology obstacles.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.