noun
five periods and eight teachings; Tendai classification of the Buddha's teachings
A technical term in Tendai Buddhism that categorizes the Buddha's 50-year teaching career into five chronological periods and eight doctrinal methods. Used in scholarly or religious contexts.
See also: 五時教
天台宗では、釈迦の教えを五時八教に分類する。
In the Tendai sect, the Buddha's teachings are classified into the five periods and eight teachings.
五時教 refers specifically to the five chronological periods, while 五時八教 includes both the five periods and the eight types of teachings.
From 五時 (five periods) and 八教 (eight teachings), a doctrinal classification system developed by Zhiyi, the founder of the Tiantai (Tendai) school of Buddhism.