His theory, as endorsed by Hokekyo (Lotus Sutra), which supports Kuon jitsujo--a view that Buddha had been in nirvana long before he was born into this world--further influenced Zhiyi of the Chinese Tendai Sect, thus providing a basis for the development of Hokekyo's educational interpretations and the division of its scripture into "Jaku-mon" (the first half) and "Hon-mon" (the second half).
僧肇の説は、法華経が久遠実成（釈迦仏は現世で悟ったのではなく久遠の昔に悟っていた）と説くことから、さらに中国天台宗の智顗に影響を与え、法華経の前半部を“迹門”、後半部を“本門”として、教学的解釈が発展した。