(781?-842?) was a scholar-monk of East Asian YogÃÂcÃÂra in Japanese Buddhism. He is best known for his debates with other leading Buddhists of the time, Kà «kai and Saichà Â, and for asserting a more orthodox Mahayana view based on the state-sanctioned schools of Nara.
Little is known about Tokuitsu's early life, but records state that he studied East Asian YogÃÂcÃÂra doctrine at an early age at Kà Âfuku-ji, then later Tà Âdai-ji. His teacher is believed to be the eminent scholar Shà «en (769-834). Saichà  writes that Tokuitsu left the capital at age 20, and resided in the outer provinces in eastern Japan, apparently at the temples of Chà «zen-ji in Tsukuba and Enichi-ji in Aizu. The bulk of his writings were concerned with challenging the Ekayana, Tiantai doctrines espoused by Saichà Â. Where Saichà  advocated the notion of universal buddhahood in all beings, Tokuitsu countered with the orthodox Hossà  view that buddhahood is not inherent in all beings, but can be awakened through the Dharma. In time, the debate grew heated, and insults were exchanged with Saichà  criticizing Tokuitsu as "one who eats only coarse, meager food", an allusion to the Pratimoká¹£a monastic precepts, while Tokuitsu criticized the patriarch of Tendai Buddhism, Zhiyi, of being a "country rustic".
By contrast, Tokuitsu's correspondence with Kà «kai was more cordial, but Tokuitsu's letters expressed great interest, persistent confusion, and doubt about Kà «kai's teachings on the DharmakÃÂya. Kà «kai, in deference to Tokuitsu's authority, adopted a more humble, conciliatory tone and sought to assert the validity of his esoteric-only teachings. Tokuitsu conceded some points to Kà «kai's argument, but remained unconvinced otherwise.