Five Periods

The Five Periods

Nearly every Buddhist school regards the order in which the Buddha Sakyamuni taught his instruction in
various ways. The following is The 5 periods of Classification of the instructions of the Buddha, according to the
P' an Chiao of Chi'i - the Great Master of the Dharma, T'ien T'ai (China, 538-597), that demonstrate
the vastness of the sacred teachings and doctrines of the Buddha Sakyamuni together with the several resulting
Buddhist schools as formed in Japan.

No.

Name of Period:

Total Years taught:

Sutras revealed:

Characteristics of the period's teaching:

Corrisponding Japanese Buddhist Schools:

1

Kegon

21 days
Avatamsaka Sutra (Kegon Sutra, Flower Garland Sutra). These doctrines first taught by the Buddha after his enlightenment under the Bodhi (Pipal) tree, and considereed only second in complexity to the Hokke-Nehan teachings and the Madhyamika doctrines. Kegon School

2

Agon (Rokuon : Deer Park)

12 years

The 5 Agama Sutras of the Pali Canon:

1) Digha-nikaya (the Long-Length Sutra);
2) Majjhima-nikaya (the Medium Length Sutra);
3) Samyutta-nikaya (the sutra of relative subjects);
4) Anguttara-nikaya (the sutra of numerical doctrine);
5) Khuddaka-nikaya (the minor sutras).
The Vinaya (the
monastiche rules) related to
suffering, emptiness, impermanence and egolessness expounded in order to emancipate people from the six lower realms of
hell, hunger, animality, anger, humanity and heaven.
The Theravadan, and Vinaya Saravastivada Schools of:

Jojitsu School

Kusha School

Ritsu School

Shingon-Ritsu School

3

Hoto

8 years
1) Shomon (Shrimala) Sutra;
2) Gejimatsu Sutra (Revelation of the Profound and Secret Teaching);
3) Yuima (Vimalakirti) Sutra;
4) The 3 Pure Land Sutras of: Muryoju Sutra, Amitayus Sutra (the Buddha of Infinite Light) and Amida Sutra;
5) The 3 Esoteric Sutras of: Dainichi Sutra, Kongocho Sutra and Soshitsuji Sutra.
The introductory
Mahayana doctrines such as,
non-substantiality, alaya-consciousness , Pure Land and esoteric (Tantric) teachings.

This period contains
the largest volume ofexpounded sutras.

Hosso School

Ji School (Pure Land, founded by Ippen Shonin)

Jodo School (Pure Land, founded by Honen Shonin)

Jodo Shin School (True Pure Land, founded by Shinran Shonin)

Shingon School

Shingon-Ritsu School

The Zen Schools: (Rinzai-shu, Soto-shu, Obaku-shu)

4

Hannya

22 years
Hannya Sutra (The Wisdom Sutras) that include: Makahannya Haramitsu Sutra (The Sutra of the Perfection of rgeet Wisdom), Hannya Shin-Kyo (The Heart Sutra, or the Essence of the Prajna-Paramita Sutra)
These sutras were taught
at Rajagriha, the Jetavana Monastry, the Bamboo Forest Monastery, and other areas.
These sutras compose the advanced level of Mahayana, expouse the supreme wisdom
and non-substantiality doctrines (the nullifying of
existence), and are studied
and practiced by many Japanese schools.
Sanron School

5

Hokke-Nehan

8 years
1) The Threfold Lotus Sutra Sutra of: Muryogi Sutra (Sutra of Infinite Meaning), The Lotus Sutra and Fugen Sutra;
2) The Nirvana Sutra The final instructions
of the Buddha that negates all the previous preliminary and preparatory doctrines,
reveals the origins of the Buddha's illumination, and the potentiality in every
being to become a Buddha.
Nichiren-shu (and other Nichiren schools)

Tendai School

No.	Name of Period:	Total Years taught:	Sutras revealed:	Characteristics of the period's teaching:	Corrisponding Japanese Buddhist Schools:
1	Kegon	21 days	Avatamsaka Sutra (Kegon Sutra, Flower Garland Sutra).	These doctrines first taught by the Buddha after his enlightenment under the Bodhi (Pipal) tree, and considereed only second in complexity to the Hokke-Nehan teachings and the Madhyamika doctrines.	Kegon School
2	Agon (Rokuon : Deer Park)	12 years	The 5 Agama Sutras of the Pali Canon: 1) *Digha-nikaya* (the Long-Length Sutra); 2) *Majjhima-nikaya* (the Medium Length Sutra); 3) *Samyutta-nikaya* (the sutra of relative subjects); 4) *Anguttara-nikaya* (the sutra of numerical doctrine); 5) *Khuddaka-nikaya* (the minor sutras).	The Vinaya (the monastiche rules) related to suffering, emptiness, impermanence and egolessness expounded in order to emancipate people from the six lower realms of hell, hunger, animality, anger, humanity and heaven.	The Theravadan, and Vinaya Saravastivada Schools of: Jojitsu School Kusha School Ritsu School Shingon-Ritsu School
3	Hoto	8 years	1) Shomon (Shrimala) Sutra; 2) Gejimatsu Sutra (Revelation of the Profound and Secret Teaching); 3) Yuima (Vimalakirti) Sutra; 4) The 3 Pure Land Sutras of: Muryoju Sutra, Amitayus Sutra (the Buddha of Infinite Light) and Amida Sutra; 5) The 3 Esoteric Sutras of: Dainichi Sutra, Kongocho Sutra and Soshitsuji Sutra.	The introductory Mahayana doctrines such as, non-substantiality, alaya-consciousness , Pure Land and esoteric (Tantric) teachings. This period contains the largest volume ofexpounded sutras.	Hosso School Ji School (Pure Land, founded by Ippen Shonin) Jodo School (Pure Land, founded by Honen Shonin) Jodo Shin School (True Pure Land, founded by Shinran Shonin) Shingon School Shingon-Ritsu School The Zen Schools: (Rinzai-shu, Soto-shu, Obaku-shu)
4	Hannya	22 years	Hannya Sutra (The Wisdom Sutras) that include: Makahannya Haramitsu Sutra (The Sutra of the Perfection of rgeet Wisdom), Hannya Shin-Kyo (The Heart Sutra, or the Essence of the Prajna-Paramita Sutra)	These sutras were taught at Rajagriha, the Jetavana Monastry, the Bamboo Forest Monastery, and other areas. These sutras compose the advanced level of Mahayana, expouse the supreme wisdom and non-substantiality doctrines (the nullifying of existence), and are studied and practiced by many Japanese schools.	Sanron School
5	Hokke-Nehan	8 years	1) The Threfold Lotus Sutra Sutra of: Muryogi Sutra (Sutra of Infinite Meaning), The Lotus Sutra and Fugen Sutra; 2) The Nirvana Sutra	The final instructions of the Buddha that negates all the previous preliminary and preparatory doctrines, reveals the origins of the Buddha's illumination, and the potentiality in every being to become a Buddha.	Nichiren-shu (and other Nichiren schools) Tendai School