Sanliujiujiao means three religions and nine academic schools.
The "Three Religions" are recorded to have originated during the Three Kingdoms period. The three religions mentioned in the conversation between Sun Quan of Wu State and Ling Kanze refer to Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
The so-called Nine Streams refer to the nine academic schools in the pre-Qin Dynasty. As for the theory of the Upper, Middle and Lower Nine Streams, it originated from "Hanshu·Yiwenzhi". The book divides the world's theories into nine streams and ten schools, which respectively refer to: Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, Famous School, Miscellaneous School, Farmer's School, Politician's School, and Yin-Yang School. The ten families include novelists in addition to the ninth class.
Confucianism: It is the main body of ancient Chinese feudal culture. The theory of Confucius has the most profound influence on Chinese culture. From the Han Dynasty to the May Fourth Movement, it has always occupied an important position in the Chinese cultural and ideological circles. Mencius and Dong Zhongshi are famous representatives.
Taoism: an academic school centered on the "Tao" doctrine of Laozi in the pre-Qin Dynasty. Zhuangzi inherited and developed Laozi's thoughts and was called a "moralist". Laozi's philosophical thoughts have the thought of simple dialectics. Taoism in the Han Dynasty respected Laozi as the ancestor of Taoism. Yin Yang School: A school of thought that advocated the theory of Yin Yang and Five Elements during the Warring States Period. The representative figure was Zou Yan of Qi State.
Legalism: An important school advocating the rule of law during the Warring States Period. It originated from Guan Zhong and Zichan in the Spring and Autumn Period, and its representative figures were Shang Yang and Shen Buhai in the Warring States Period. Han Fei was the master of Legalism. Famous scholar: a school of thought during the Warring States Period, a "debator", and ancient logic. The representative figure is Gongsun Long.
Mo School: A school of thought during the Warring States Period, advocating "non-offensive (opposing unjust wars)", "frugal use", "frugal burial", etc. The founder is Mo Zhai.
Political strategists: Among the strategists engaged in political and diplomatic activities during the Warring States Period, there were the "United Zong Faction" and the "Lian Heng Faction". The representative figures are Su Qin (advocating "uniting vertically", that is, the six countries unite to resist Qin), and Zhang Yi (advocating "joining horizontally", that is, disintegrating the unity of the six countries and making them serve Qin separately). These two types of strategists are collectively called "strategists".
Miscellaneous scholars: A group of scholars who mixed the thoughts of various schools from the Warring States Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties. Their characteristic is that they "combine Confucianism and Mohism, as well as fame and law." His representative works are "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Huainanzi".
Nongjia: an academic school that reflected agricultural production and farmers’ thoughts during the Warring States Period. Novelists: Novelists’ leisure time and entertainment. In ancient times, they only had “neither learning nor skills”, no fame and family fortune, and no farming or weaving. Only people can delve into it. To make a living in this way, you often need to cater to others, which is close to flattery. In ancient times, there was an extreme lack of material resources, and novelists were unable to serve society, so they were considered "not mainstream."
The folk three religions and nine streams have become the standard for classifying people into three, six or nine levels
The first version: the "nine streams" are: first-rate Buddha, second-rate immortals, and third-rate sages. , the fourth-rate official, the fifth-rate minister, the sixth-rate prime minister, the seventh-rate monk, the eighth-rate Taoist priest, and Jiuzhuang Tian. The nine middle schools are: first-rate storytelling, second-rate medicine, third-rate divination (fortune-telling), fourth-rate chess (chess master), fifth-rate painter (painter), sixth-rate official (soldier), seventh-rate (lobbyist), and eighth-rate (chivalrous man) ), nine fishing.
The lower nine streams are: first-rate stage (operating), second-rate blower (wind player), third-rate circus, fourth-rate shaver (head shaving), fifth-rate pool (opening a bathhouse), sixth-rate back rub, seventh-rate pedicure (pedicure), Eight mates (mating) and nine prostitutes.
Second version:
The nine highest levels: emperor, sage, hermit, child immortal, scholar, warrior, farmer, worker, and merchant. The middle nine streams: Juzi, doctor, fortune teller, Danqing (painting seller), scholar, chess player, monk, Taoist, nun.
The lower nine streams: Master, Yamen, Shengwei (weighing hand), matchmaker, pawn, time demon (kidnapping, witch), thief, theft, prostitution. In the Yuan Dynasty, the order of highest status and lowest status was: emperor, scribes, officials, doctors and divination, monks, soldiers, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants.
In modern history, folk figures in the world are divided into the upper and lower jiuli, which only include folk figures: the upper jiuli: monks, Taoist priests, painters, doctors, Feng Shui masters, fortune tellers, chefs, etc. Private school teacher, drug shop; lower class: actress, maid, prostitute, beggar, villain, barber, pawnshop, bathhouse, carpenter.