本文考定禪宗西天廿八代付法祖師演變的相關問題。首論「付法」由付囑護持法藏，轉為師資密授相承，此中《付法藏因緣傳》扮演極關鍵角色。沙門統曇曜因應太武滅佛而纂譯此書，建構廿四位代代承傳法脈。其後智炬《寶林傳》弘揚南宗，以文學筆法，正式完成禪宗東西祖統，比較二者內容，可見後者在前者基乙下，增補大量未曾聞見事蹟，將小乘聲聞改造成大乘禪行者，為後繼燈史所依循；但西天廿八祖之說，在永嘉玄覺〈證道歌〉早已出現，有除提出〈證道歌〉不是偽作的幾點論證，並據龍門石窟看經寺廿九尊羅漢雕造於武周年間北禪獨盛的嵩洛地區，推斷北宗對於西天祖統奠立確有貢獻。全篇透過比較分析，考知西天付法傳說在不同時代，因應不同的目的，附會緣飾日益密緻的傳記演變歷程；也導正西天祖統為南宗首創成說。

This paper is intended to reexplore the development of the Chan Sect of Buddhism and the relevant problems about the 28th founders’ teaching Buddhism sutra. First it expounds that teaching Buddhism sutra is completed the way teaching staff teach it privately from generation to generation instead of traditional transmitting. During this period the Fu Fa Zang Yin Yuan Zhuan plays an important role. Tan Yao, the leader of Buddhist priests, compiled this book in accordance with Emperor Taiwu’s order to destroy Buddhism and established the clear 24 threads of Buddhism sutra passed on from generation of generation. Afterwards one of the threads Bao Lin Zhuan officially completed the combination of East and West Chan sects in literary expression for the purpose of promoting South Chan sect. By comparison between the two of them it can be found that Bao Lin Zhuan supplemented large numbers of stories based on the Fu Fa Zang Yin Yuan Zhuan to turn Buddhists of Hinayana who comprehend Buddhism sutra by hearing into Chan sect Buddhists of Mahayana. The follow-up Buddhism history all abides by it. According to the 28th Buddhist founders’ ism, Zheng Dao Gewe is written right before Yongjia Period, this article argues that Zheng Dao Gew is not a pseudo-work by giving evidence in accordance with 29 Arhats located at Kanjing Temple of Langmen Grottoes that were made in Songluo Region in Wuzhou Period in which the North Chan of Buddhism was the most prosperous, and deduces that North Sect of Buddhism did played a role in the Combination of united Buddhism. On the basis of comparison and analysis the present paper, stress is laid on examining the imparting of Buddhism sutra and the Buddhist classic works’ development that continually supplement and develop in the different eras for the different in the different eras for the different purposes. Meanwhile it is seen from this that the North sect of Buddhism originally establishes the combination.