The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2121 page)

(‘
School of Three Stages
’). School of Chinese Buddhism during the Sui and T’ang periods, founded by Hsin-hsing (540–94). It portrayed the process of Buddhism as one of degeneration through three stages:

(i) the period of true
dharma
, which lasted for 500 years after the
Buddha
kyamuni's translation from earth, during which the teaching was observed;
(ii) 1,000 years of corrupted dharma, with many innovations;
(iii) 10,000 years, most yet to come (beginning 550 CE), of increasing disintegration. Against this, Hsin-hsing set a rule of radical observance of
la
,
d
na
, and asceticism, eschewing monasteries, although willing to support them.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Chin., ‘the three pure ones’). The three Taoist heavens (
t'ien
) and those who inhabit them.
1
Yü-ching, the heaven of pure jade, inhabited by Yüan-shih t'ien-tsun, one of the highest deities of religious Taoism (
tao-chiao
). He created heaven and earth, and at the start of each new age, he gives
Ling-pao ching
to subordinates who instruct humans from it in the way of Tao.
2
Shang-ch'ing, the heaven of purity, ruled by Ling-pao t'ien-tsun. He is the guardian of Ling-pao ching, and regulates time and the balance of
yin and yang
.
3
T'ai-ch'ing, the heaven of highest purity, ruled by Tao-te T'ien-tsun, the guardian of
tao
and
te
. He is identified with
Lao-tzu
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

see
S
ÑCH
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search