玄义

The deep meaning; the meaning of the

profound; it refers chiefly to the Tiantai method of teaching which was to proceed from a general explanation of the content and meaning of the various great sutras to a discussion of the deeper meaning. the method was:

(1) 釋名 explanation of the terms;

(2) 辨體 defintion of the substance;

(3) 明宗 making clear the principles;

(4) 論用 discussing their application;

(5) 判教 discriminating the doctrine. v. also 玄疏.