三教九流

sān jiào jiǔ liú

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Definitions

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

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Child Words of 三教九流

• 三 三 sān: three
• 九 九 jiǔ: nine
• 教 教 jiāo: to teach
• 教 教 jiào: religion
• 流 流 liú: to flow
• 三教 三教 sān jiào: the Three Doctrines (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism)
• 九流 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]