Three teachings
Encyclopedia
In Chinese philosophy
Chinese philosophy
Chinese philosophy is philosophy written in the Chinese tradition of thought. The majority of traditional Chinese philosophy originates in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States era, during a period known as the "Hundred Schools of Thought", which was characterized by significant intellectual and...

, the three teachings , are usually Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...

, Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...

 and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...

 when considered as a harmonious aggregate. The term may also refer to a non-religious philosophy built on that aggregation.

History

The use of the phrase first occurred during the Wei
Wei Dynasty
Wei Dynasty can refer to two different dynasties in Chinese history:* Cao Wei was a Han Chinese dynasty that existed during the Three Kingdoms Period....

 and Jin dynasties.

Three Teachings Harmonious as One

The phrase also appears as the three teachings harmonious as one . Academically, it refers to a syncretic sect founded during the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

by Lin Zhaoen. In that sect, Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist beliefs were combined based on their usefulness in self-cultivation.

Alternatively, in common understanding, three teachings harmonious as one simply reflects the long history, mutual influence, and (at times) complementary teachings of the three belief systems, with little relationship to Lin Zhaoen's sect.
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