Tendai Buddhism is one of the most popular known schools of Buddhism. As a matter of fact, it is one of the few traditions of Buddhism that enjoy acceptance all across the world. Tendai Buddhism has also been described as a significant development in both- Chinese as well as Japanese Buddhism.
This school of Buddhism is known to have a great devotional influence on Chinese and Japanese society.
Like every other school of Buddhism, this one too has it's own set of teachings and doctrine. However, the Tendai doctrine rests primarily on the Lotus Sutra. Lotus Sutra is also known as Saddharmapundarika-sutra. Along with Tendai Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra lays the foundation principles of Nichiren and Pure Land schools.
Since Tendai Buddhism is centered on the Lotus School, it is also commonly referred to as Lotus School. However, it is usually known as T'ien-T'ai in China and Tendai in Japan. This name derives its origin from the southeastern mountain in China, where most of the teachings of this Buddhism tradition were developed.
Tendai Buddhism has quite an interesting history to it's credit. It's history dates back to the 5th century. It was during the 5th century that two Chinese monks Hui-wen and Hui-ssu translated the Lotus Sutra into Chinese and started teaching it in North China. A student of Hui-ssu, known as Chih-hi, took these teachings to southeast China. He established a monastery on Mount T'ien-t'ai. This monastery is known to have initiated the systematic and well defined interpretation of the Lotus school.
However, Tendai Buddhism traveled to Japan trough Saicho. Saicho was a Japanese monk who studied at Mount T'ien-t'ai. When he returned to Japan, he laid the foundation of the Tendai Lotus Sect. He built a monastery on Mount Hiei that propagates the teachings of Tendai Buddhism in Japan.
Amidst various other schools of Buddhism, Tendai Buddhism is the most comprehensive. It imbibes the teachings of various other Buddhism traditions such as Vinaya, Shingon and Zen. It also includes some teachings of Shinto, which is the indigenous Japanese tradition. However, the essential focus of this Buddhism tradition remains Lotus Sutra only.
Tendai Buddhism focuses on achieving salvation. It advocates Buddha as a cosmic being rather than a human being. As per Tendai Buddhism, Buddha is "a transcendent eternal being, preaching to myriad arhats, gods, bodhisattvas, and other figures using all sorts of sermons, lectures, imaginative parables, and miracles."
In the present day scenario, Tendai Buddhism enjoys immense popularity. It is followed by people across distinct geographical boundaries and cultures. It's humanitarian and universal approach finds it many followers in different corners of the world.
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