Saichō used the concept of the maturing of people’s faculties in a different way than Chih-i. Rather than applying the idea to individuals, Saichō argued that the Japanese people as a group possessed mature faculties. Saichō utilized Japan’s place in Buddhist history and the teachings concerning the decline of Buddhism to support his views. In the preface to the Ehyō Tendaishū dated 816, Saichō first presented this idea in several enigmatic, short sentences:

“In Japan the Perfect faculties (enki) of the people have already matured. The Perfect teaching has finally arisen.”

Several years later in his Shugo kokkaishō, Saichō further explained his view:

Now men’s faculties have all changed. There is no one with Hinayāna faculties. The Period of the True and of the Imitated Dharma have almost passed, and the age of mappō is extremely near. Now is the time for those with faculties suitable for the Hokke One-vehicle teaching. How do we know this? Because of what the Anrakugyōbon [Peaceful Practices chapter of Lotus Sutra] teaches about the latter days of the decline of the Dharma.