In view of the above-mentioned, it is pointed out that the Japanese Tendai Sect founded by Saicho is, in spite of the same name, a different one from the Chinese Tendai Sect which is based on Hokke-kyo sutra and founded by Chigi, and although it succeeds Chigi's doctrine and is based on Hokke-kyo sutra, it is a unique one that tried to fuse the elements of Zen, Buddhist precepts, nenbutsu and Esoteric Buddhism or the one that tried to develop Chigi's Tendai kyogaku while succeeding it.
また上記の事項から、同じ天台宗といっても、智顗が確立した法華経に依る中国の天台宗とは違い、最澄が開いた日本の天台宗は、智顗の説を受け継ぎ法華経を中心としつつも、禅や戒、念仏、密教の要素も含み、それらの融合を試みた独特なもので、性格がやや異なるもの、また智顗の天台教学を継承しつつそれをさらに発展しようと試みたものであると指摘されている。