In his petition asking that students be sent to China, Saichō claimed that the Tendai texts transmitted to Japan contained many copyist errors. In addition, a direct transmission from Chinese teachers to Japanese students was needed to insure the orthodoxy of the Tendai School in Japan. Saichō criticized both the Hossō and Sanron schools for being based on Sāstra (commentaries), not on sūtras (the Buddha’s words). Hossō and Sanron monks considered only the branches of the Buddha’s doctrines and neglected the roots. Tendai teachings, because they valued the Lotus Sūtra above all other authorities, were not subject to this criticism. Thus even before he went to China, Saichō declared his intention to establish the Tendai School in Japan.