Chih-i’s system is so justifiable and complete that no other Chinese schools could establish its own system of classification without reference to his system. Because of Chih-i ‘s remarkable effort, the P’an-chiao system became one of the major characters of Chinese Buddhism, entailing synthesis and unification of Buddhist schools and theories. In the meantime, this system also serves as a rationale for historical and doctrinal continuity of the Buddha’s teaching career, so that Buddhism is treated as a consistent entity. Our view of this system (that is so essential in Chinese Buddhism) is that this technique of synthesis underlies a typical Chinese episteme of constantly seeking for harmony, whether between nature and humans, or among human beings themselves. This episteme is derived from a holistic view of the universe, unifying everything under a single system.