Thrice turned wheel of the Law
thrice turned wheel of the Law
三転法輪 (Jpn san-temborin )
Also, three turnings of the wheel of the Law.
A classification of Shakyamuni's lifetime teachings into three categories according to the order of their preaching,
set forth by Chi-tsang (549-623), a systematizer of the doctrines of the Three Treatises (Sanlun) school in China.
The thrice turned wheel of the Law consists of the root teaching, the branch teaching,
and the teaching that unites the branch teaching with the root teaching.
The root teaching represents the teaching that directly reveals the Buddha's enlightenment to bodhisattvas without employing expedient means.
It corresponds to the one vehicle teaching of the Flower Garland Sutra.
The branch teaching represents the three vehicle teaching, which the Buddha expounded in accordance with the capacity of his listeners.
It corresponds to the teaching of the Agama, Correct and Equal, and Wisdom sutras.
The teaching that unites the branch teaching with the root teaching indicates the teaching that unites the three vehicle teaching with the one vehicle teaching.
It corresponds to the Lotus Sutra.
