📖 Meaning
A general term for the various schools of religion and academic thought. It also refers to people from all walks of life and all kinds of professions in society. The phrase encompasses the diversity of beliefs, doctrines, and social callings.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase traces back to Song dynasty scholar Zhao Yanwei's work 'Yunlu Manchao' (云麓漫钞), Volume 6, which records that Emperor Wu of Liang asked about the three teachings, nine schools, and the affairs of the Han dynasty, knowing them as if they were right before his eyes. The 'three teachings' refers to Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, while the 'nine schools' denotes the nine major philosophical schools of ancient China. Over the centuries the expression broadened to mean all religious and academic sects, and by extension all kinds of people across society.
💡 Example Usage
这座城市的集市上，九流三教的人都有，热闹非凡。
People from all walks of life gather at this city's marketplace, making it extraordinarily lively.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 九流三教
- Pinyin: jiǔ liú sān jiào
- Literal Translation: nine, streams, three, teachings
- Category: Variety
- Characters: 4