Three Ages of Buddhism

The Three Ages of Buddhism, also known as the Three Ages of the Dharma (), are three divisions of time following Shakyamuni Buddha's death and passing into Nirvana in East Asian Buddhism. The Three Ages of Buddhism are three divisions of time following Buddha's passing: Former Day of the Dharma — also known as the “Age of the Right Dharma” (; Japanese: ), the first thousand years (or 500 years) during which the Buddha's disciples are able to uphold the Buddha's teachings; Middle Day of the Dharma — also known as the “Age of Semblance Dharma” (; Japanese: ), the second thousand years (or 500 years), which only resembles the right Dharma; Latter Day of the Dharma — also known as “the Degenerate Age of Dharma” (; Japanese: ), which is to last for 10,000 years during which the Dharma declines. In the Sutra of the Great Assembly (Sanskrit: ; Japanese: ), the three periods are further divided into five five-hundred year periods (五五百歳, Chinese: ; Japanese: ), the fifth and last of which was prophesied to be when the Buddhism of Shakyamuni Buddha would lose all power of salvation and a new Buddha would appear to save the people. This time period would be characterized by unrest, strife, famine, and natural disasters. The three periods are significant to Mahayana adherents, particularly those who hold the Lotus Sutra in high regard, namely the Tiantai and Tendai and Nichiren Buddhism, who believe that different Buddhist teachings are valid (i.e., able to lead practitioners to enlightenment) in each period due to the different capacity to accept a teaching (機根, Chinese: ; Japanese: ) of the people born in each respective period. Traditionally, this age is supposed to begin 2000 years after Shakyamuni Buddha's passing and last for 10,000 years or more. Shakyamuni, in the Sutra of the Great Assembly (Jpn. Daijuku-kyō), describes the Latter Day of the Dharma (Jpn. Mappo) as "the age of conflict", when “Quarrels and disputes will arise among the adherents to my teachings, and the Pure Dharma will become obscured and lost.