As Saicho advocated the doctrine of Hokke ichijo which asserted all people were able to become Buddha, disputes arose between Nara Buddhism (Nanto rokushu) which stuck to the position of Theravada Buddhism.
最澄はすべての衆生は成仏できるという法華一乗の立場を説き、小乗的立場を堅持する奈良仏教と論争が起こる。