三教
The three teachings, i.e. 儒, 佛 (or 释), and 道Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism; or, 孔, 老, 释 Confucianism, Taoism (aIso known as 神), and Buddhism. In Japan they are Shinto, Confucianism, and Buddhism. In Buddhism the term is applied to the three periods of kyamuni's own teaching, of which there are several definitions: (1) The Jiangnan 南中 School describe his teaching as (a) 渐progressive or gradual; (b) 顿 immediate, i.e. as one whole, especially in the 华严经; and (c) 不定 or indeterminate. (2) 光统 Guangtong, a writer of the Iater Wei dynasty, describes the three as (a) 渐 progressive for beginners, i.e. from impermanence to permanence, from the void to reality, etc.; (b) 顿 immediate for the more advanced; and (c) 圆complete, to the most advanced, i.e. the Huayan as above. (3) The 三时q.v. (4) The 南山 Southern school deals with (a) the 性空of Hnayna; (b) 相空of Mahyna; and (c) 唯识圆 the perfect idealism. v. 行事钞中 4. Tiantai accepts the division of 渐, 顿, and 不定 for pre-Lotus teaching, but adopts 渐 gradual, 顿 immediate, and 圆 perfect, with the Lotus as the perfect teaching; it also has the division of 三藏 , 通 , and 别 q.v.
