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Fengfayao
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Quick Facts
Chinese:
“Essentials of the Dharma”
Wade-Giles romanization:
Feng-fa-yao
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Fengfayao

Buddhist literature
Also known as: “Feng-fa-yao”
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

Fengfayao, discussion of Buddhist precepts written in the 4th century ce by Xi Chao, who, though a Daoist, was a great admirer of Buddhism. One of the earliest discourses on the subject by a non-Buddhist, it is regarded as a milestone in the advance of Buddhist thought in China. Although it contains some erroneous interpretations of Buddhist ideas, the Fengfayao is comparable in its accuracy to the works of Xi Chao’s Chinese Buddhist counterparts.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Matt Stefon.