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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

教
jiāo

to teach

九
jiǔ

nine

教
jiào

religion

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]

流
liú

to flow

三教
sān jiào

the Three Doctrines (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism)