643 – 712
Fazang (643–712 CE) was a Chinese Buddhist monk of Sogdian descent who systematized and effectively founded the Huayan (Flower Garland) school of Chinese Buddhism. Regarded as the third Huayan patriarch, he synthesized Indian Avatamsaka thought with Chinese metaphysics, producing a distinctive philosophy of mutual interpenetration and the totality of interdependent dharmas. His prolific commentarial and essay writing made Huayan one of the most intellectually sophisticated schools of East Asian Buddhism.
Systematized Huayan (Hua-yen) Buddhist philosophy, establishing it as a major school of Chinese Buddhism
Composed the 'Treatise on the Golden Lion' (Jin shizi zhang), a canonical exposition of Huayan metaphysics delivered to Empress Wu Zetian
Wrote extensive commentaries on the Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Garland Sutra)
Developed the doctrine of the 'Ten Mysterious Gates' articulating the interdependence and mutual containment of all phenomena
Elaborated the philosophy of li (principle) and shi (phenomena) and their non-obstruction, foundational to East Asian Buddhist thought