中國佛教學者沿著追尋事物本性即法性的理路，借鑒中國傳統哲學「理」範疇的含義，逐漸把法性、真如、理三個概念等同起來，不僅視「理」為真理，且以「理」為宇宙人生的植體，眾生證悟的根據與目標，強調悟理以成就佛果。中國佛教學者是怎樣借鑒「理」範疇的含義，以是怎樣以「理」為宇宙人生本體的？我們將按照歷史順序，依次論述竺道生，以及天台、華嚴、禪諸宗「理」的思想，以求說明中國佛教「理」思想的拓展與演進。

　　　　　Following the idea principle that the nature of things is noumenon, by means of the implication of the category of Noumenon in traditional Chinese philosophy, Chinese Buddhists gradually equalize the ideas of dharma nature, true sate of things, and noumenon; they see noumenon not only as the truth but also as the substance of life, the basis and goal of the masses' satori, emphasizing that through satori we can gain the Buddha fruit. How do Cihnese Buddhists draw on the implication of the category of noumenon and how they see noumenon as the substance of the universe? Along the historical sequence, we will address how Zhu Dao Sheng, Tian Tai, Hua Yian and various sects of Zen interpret the idea of “noumenon” in order to show that expansion and evolution of the idea of noumenon in Chinese Buddhism.