八教

The eight Tiantai classifications of Śākyamuni's teaching, from the <Avataṁsaka> to the <Lotus> and <Nirvāṇa> sūtras, divided into the two sections

(1) [lang id =1028]化法四教 his four kinds of teaching of the content of the Truth accommodated to the capacity of his disciples;

(2) [lang id =1028]化儀四教 his four modes of instruction.

(1) The four [lang id =1028]化法教 are: (a) [lang id =1028]三藏教 The Tripiṭaka or Hīnayāna teaching, for śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, the bodhisattva doctrine being subordinate; it also included the primitive (sa) śūnya doctrine as developed in the <Satyasiddhi śāstra>. (b) [lang id =1028]教通His later "intermediate" teaching which contained Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna doctrine for (sa) śrāvaka, (sa) pratyekabuddha, and bodhisattva, to which are attributed the doctrines of the Dharmalakṣaṇa or Yogācārya and Mādhyamika schools. (c) [lang id =1028]別教 His differentiated , or separated, bodhisattva teaching, definitely Mahāyāna. (d) [lang id =1028]圓教 His final, perfect, bodhisattva, universal teaching as preached, e.g. in the Lotus and Nirvāṇa sūtras.

(2) The four methods of instruction [lang id =1028]化儀 are: (a) [lang id =1028]頓教 Direct teaching without reserve of the whole truth, e.g. the [lang id =1028]華嚴 sūtra. (b) [lang id =1028]漸教 Gradual or graded, e.g. the [lang id =1028]阿含, [lang id =1028]方等, and [lang id =1028]般若 sūtras; all the four [lang id =1028]化法 are also included under this heading. (c) [lang id =1028]祕密教 Esoteric teaching, only understood by special members of the assembly. (d) [lang id =1028]不定教 General or indeterminate teaching, from which each hearer would derive benefit according to his interpretation.

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化法四教與化儀四教， 合稱為八教。 化法四教是三藏教、 通教、 別教、 圓教， 因此四教是教化眾生的法門， 故名化法； 化儀四教是頓教、 漸教、 秘密教、 不定教， 因此四教是教化眾生的儀式， 故名化儀。 以上八教， 都是天台宗所立。