Chih-i’s view is that the purpose of the Buddha to refute the views of the three sages is to lead them to realize that the truths they hold are not ultimate, for these truths do not accord with the correct substance. Nevertheless, Chih-i emphasizes that it does not mean these truths are not the Word of the Buddha. They are taught by the Buddha with different kinds of knowledge. It is in this context that Chih-i introduces his system categorizing the knowledge of the Buddha, namely “three kinds of the Twofold Knowledge in terms of the Relative and the Ultimate” (San- Chung Ch’üan-shih Erh-chih). (Vol. 2, Page 3)