The Lotus Sutra is one of the most important sutras in Mahayana Buddhism.Translated by Kumarajiva in the 5th century, its teachings have inspired many Buddhist scholars such as Chih-i and Saicho from the Tiantai (Tendai) tradition, Dogen from the Zen tradition and Nichiren the 13th century Kamakura founder and reformer.There is a relative lack of scholarly works that are devoted to an examination of how its philosophical ideas were received and developed throughout history.This book remedies that lack by tracing the origin and development of Lotus Sutra thought, and interprets the text from the perspective of the doctrine of Buddha-nature in Mahayana Buddhism.