三宝 (sān bǎo) — (noun) (Confucianism) the three treasures of a state: territory, people, and governance; (noun) (Buddhism) the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha

Definition

A learned/classical phrase for a revered 'set of three' in Chinese tradition. In Buddhism it means the Three Jewels (佛 Buddha, 法 Dharma, 僧 Sangha); in Confucian statecraft it refers to a country's three treasures (territory, people, governance).

noun
(Confucianism) the three treasures of a state: territory, people, and governance(Buddhism) the Three Jewels: BuddhaDharmaand Sangha

Examples

  • 三宝，。
    Tā fā yuàn guī yī sān bǎo, jīng jìn xiū xíng.
    He vowed to take refuge in the Three Jewels and practice diligently.
  • ，、、三宝。
    Gǔ rén rèn wéi, tǔ dì, rén mín, zhèng shì shì guó jiā de sān bǎo.
    The ancients believed that territory, people, and governance are the three treasures of a nation.
  • 三宝，。
    Sì miào lǐ gòng fèng zhe sān bǎo, xiāng kè luò yì bù jué.
    The temple enshrines the Three Jewels, and pilgrims come in an endless stream.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

三sānthree
宝bǎotreasure

三 counts the treasures named by 宝.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 琡琡chùjade
  • 貝貝bèicowry

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Open 宝 →

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