twelve-fold chain of causation; twelve causal links
Buddhist technical term for the doctrine of dependent origination (Sanskrit: pratītya-samutpāda). Used in scholarly or religious contexts.
The theory of the twelve-fold chain of causation is one of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism.
縁起 is a broader term for 'dependent origination' or 'omen'; 十二縁起説 specifically refers to the twelve-link chain.
From 十二 (twelve) + 縁起 (dependent origination) + 説 (theory). A direct translation of the Sanskrit concept pratītya-samutpāda.