 Chengguan was a voluminous writer. He authored a commentary (with an accompanying subcommentary) on the Avatamsaka Sutra that displaced Fazang’s with respect to authority and influence, as well as an influential commentary on Dushun’s Discernments of the Dharmadhatu (Ch. Huayan fajie xuan jing; T45.1883, trans. Cleary 1983, 71–124). He gave frequent lectures to imperial officials, and he wrote many essays at their request. Chengguan’s writings are notable for quoting frequently from Chinese classics, borrowing words but not meanings for the sake of making his teaching accessible to educated literati. This style is likely a response to the weakened political status of Buddhism following the An Lushan rebellion (755–763), which increased Chinese suspicions of foreign traditions such as Buddhism and thereby heightened a need to show how Buddhist teachings harmonize with native Chinese traditions. 