In modern times there emerged a stream of thought both in the Chinese Buddhist circle and the Japanese Buddhist circle which were critical of the thought of Tathāgata-garbha that had profound influence on Chinese Buddhism.

The controversies on Mahayana-sraddhot pada-sastra manifests the difference of tathagata-garbha between Yinshun and Ouyang Jiwu s thoughts.

The controversies on " inherent nirvana"(性寂) and "inherent intelligence"(性觉)manifest the difference between Yin Shun’s and Lü Cheng’s thoughts on tathagata-garbha.

The connotation of Tathagata-garbha can be, corresponding to the three phases of Indian Tathagata-Garbha theory,divided into three different,inter-related parts,that is,Buddhist nature,immaterial nature and intelligent nature,among which,Tathagata-garbha of intelligent nature is closely related to Vijānamātra studies.

The Ideas of Middle Way in the Tathagatagarbha School and Inter-religious Dialogue;

Yin Shun s argument against Xin Wei Shi Lun(New Consciousness-Only Doctrine) indicates his definition of sunyata in the conception of tathagatagarbha.

It has become a stream of thought to criticize the doctrine of Tathāgata-garbha and the doctrine of inner-Buddha(Original Enlightenment)since the 20~(th) century.

Critical Buddhism in modern Japan has investigated Buddhist doctrines,putting forward two propositions,one is that Tathāgata-garbha is not Buddhism,another inner-Buddha is not Buddhism.

Tathāgata- garbha causation Everything in the world or in Heavean is decided by Tathāgata- garbha and everyone is Tathāgata- garbha.