Jap., lit. "three treatises", the Japanese form of the Chinese San-lun school, which in turn comes from the Indian Madhyamaka. This school was brought to Japan by the Korean monk Ekwan in the year 625 and further spread there by two of his students. These two set in motion two currents within the Sanron school (Jojitsu school). The Sanron in Japan was never an independently organized school; its teachings were studied by followers of all Buddhist schools because it contained essential elements for an understanding of the Mahayana that served as a theoretical basis for many schools.

The Sanron school was a major influence on Prince Shotoku (574-622), who unified Japan. Three Korean masters of Sanron taught in his temple. The teachings of this school are reflected in the "constitution" that Shotoku gave Japan.

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