Sangō Shiiki (三教指帰) is a dialectic allegory written by Kūkai in 797.
It is written in a dialectic style comparing and critiquing Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
Teachers from each school of thought attempt to educate a dissolute nephew Tokaku.
Finally, in volume three, Kamei Kotsuji critiques Taoism from a Buddhist position.
The main characters appearing within the text were based on actual people: