Japanese form of the Chinese Tien-tai school, brought to Japan from China in the 8^th century by Saicho (Dengyo Daishi). There are no essential doctrinal differences between the Chinese and Japanese forms ofthe school. An important representative of the Tendai school was Ennin.

In Japan there were three subschools of Tendai: Sammon(Jap., also Sanmon, lit. "mountain gate"), Jimon, and Shinsei. The central focus in the Shinsei school is veneration of Buddha Amitabha.

(excerpted from "The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion", Shambhala, Boston)