律宗是由道宣(596-667)開創、依據《四分律》而成立的宗派，主要工作是闡發律藏的內容。跟天臺、華嚴、禪等宗派相比，律宗在義理上稍欠特色。可是，道宣主張律藏義通大乘；吸納唯識思想，把戒體理解為阿賴耶識中的善種子，令戒體成為修行成道的最終根據，以及對於持犯、罪過、戒律的種類、方便犯戒等一些律學上的課題，道宣都提出自身獨特的詮釋，凡此顯示出律學在修行上的獨特地位，不讓義學專美。凡此都很值得研究中國佛教者留意。

Vinaya school, focused on the elaboration of the monastic regulations on the base of Four Part Vinaya, was regarded to be by Daoxuan (596-667) IN Tang dynasty. By contrast with Tiantai, Huayen, Chan etc., Vinaya school showed less interest in philosophical investigation. However, Daoxuan claimed that the doctrine of the Four Part Vinaya anticipated the spirit of Mahayana teachings and the essence of the precepts (jieti) was karmic “seed” which being the underlying force for attaining Buddhahood. Also, Daoxuan put forward his own ideas and interpretations on the status of vinaya, classification of regulations, nature of guilty etc.. Form then on, vinaya plays a vital position in Buddhist studies. All these should be considered by serious Buddhist scholars.