三教九流

sān jiào jiǔ liú

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Definitions

  1. 1. the Three Religions (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism) and Nine Schools (Confucians, Daoists, Yin-Yang, Legalists, Logicians, Mohists, Political Strategists, Eclectics, Agriculturists)
  2. 2. fig. people from all trades (often derog.)

Child Words of 三教九流

三
sān

three

九
jiǔ

nine

教
jiāo

to teach

教
jiào

religion

流
liú

to flow

三教
sān jiào

the Three Doctrines (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism)

九流
jiǔ liú

the nine schools of thought, philosophical schools of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770-220 BC), viz Confucians 儒家[rú jiā], Daoists 道家[dào jiā], Yin and Yang 陰陽家|阴阳家[yīn yáng jiā], Legalists 法家[fǎ jiā], Logicians 名家[míng jiā], Mohists 墨家[mò jiā], Diplomats 縱橫家|纵横家[zòng héng jiā], Miscellaneous 雜家|杂家[zá jiā], and Agriculturalists 農家|农家[nóng jiā]