Pi-yu, Pì yù, Pī yǔ: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Pi-yu means something in Buddhism, Pali, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Chinese Buddhism
譬喩 [pi yu]—A parable, metaphor; the avadāna section of the canon, v. 阿波 [a bo]; there are numerous categories, e.g. the seven parables of the Lotus Sūtra, the ten of the Prajñā and Vimalakīrti sūtras, etc.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
譬喻 [pi yu]—Parable (pì yù)—[Terminology (術語 [shu yu] shù yǔ)] In Sanskrit, it is called Avadāna (阿波陀那 [a bo tuo na] Avadāna), which means using what is known (了知之法 [le zhi zhi fa] liǎozhī zhī fǎ) to illustrate what is not yet known (未了知之法 [wei le zhi zhi fa] wèi liǎozhī zhī fǎ).
Dharma Flower (Lotus Sutra) Commentary, Volume 5 (法華文句五 [fa hua wen ju wu] Fǎhuá Wénjù wǔ) states: "'Pì' (譬 [pi]) means comparison and analogy; 'Yù' (喻 [yu]) means explanation and instruction. It is to rely on this to compare to that, and to use the shallow to instruct the deep. (omitted in the middle) Moving trees illustrate the wind (動樹訓風 [dong shu xun feng] dòng shù xùn fēng), raising a fan symbolizes the moon (舉扇喻月 [ju shan yu yue] jǔ shàn yù yuè), hence the term 'pìyù'."
Nirvana Sutra, Volume 29 (涅槃經二十九 [nie pan jing er shi jiu] Nièpán Jīng èrshíjiǔ) speaks of eight types of analogies (喻法 [yu fa] yù fǎ):
1. Progressive Analogy (順喻 [shun yu] shùn yù): Following the worldly truth (世諦 [shi di] shì dì), it is an analogy that progresses in sequence from small to large. When heaven sends down heavy rain, small puddles fill; when small puddles fill, large puddles fill; when large puddles fill, even the great ocean (大海 [da hai] dàhǎi) fills. The Tathagata's (如來 [ru lai] rúlái) Dharma rain (法雨 [fa yu] fǎ yǔ) is also like this: sentient beings' (眾生 [zhong sheng] zhòngshēng) precepts (戒 [jie] jiè) are fulfilled, leading to liberation (解脫 [jie tuo] jiětuō) being fulfilled; when liberation is fulfilled, nirvana (涅槃 [nie pan] nièpán) is fulfilled. This is called Progressive Analogy.
2. Regressive Analogy (逆喻 [ni yu] nì yù): Contrary to worldly truth, it is an analogy that progresses in sequence from large to small. The great ocean originates from great rivers, great rivers originate from small rivers, and even ditches (溝澮 [gou hui] gōuhuì) originate from heavy rain. Similarly, the Tathagata's nirvana originates from liberation, and even upholding precepts (持戒 [chi jie] chí jiè) originates from the Dharma rain. This is called Regressive Analogy.
3. Direct Analogy (現喻 [xian yu] xiàn yù): Using a presently existing matter as an analogy. For example, it is said that the nature of sentient beings' minds (眾生心性 [zhong sheng xin xing] zhòngshēng xīnxìng) is like a monkey (獼猴 [mi hou] míhóu).
4. Fictional Analogy (非喻 [fei yu] fēi yù): Using a hypothetical, non-real event as an analogy. For example, the Buddha (佛 [fu] Fó) told King Prasenajit (波斯匿王 [bo si ni wang] Bōsīní Wáng): "If great mountains (大山 [da shan] dà shān) were coming from the four directions, intending to harm the people, what would the king do?" This hypothetical four mountains (四山 [si shan] sì shān) symbolize old age (老 [lao] lǎo), sickness (病 [bing] bìng), birth (生 [sheng] shēng), and death (死 [si] sǐ).
5. Prior Analogy (先喻 [xian yu] xiān yù): First setting up the analogy, then connecting it with the Dharma (法 [fa] fǎ). For example, it is said that someone, coveting beautiful flowers (妙花 [miao hua] miào huā), was swept away by water (水漂流 [shui piao liu] shuǐ piāoliú) while picking them. Sentient beings similarly crave the five desires (五欲 [wu yu] wǔ yù), and are drowned by the water of birth and death (生死之水 [sheng si zhi shui] shēngsǐ zhī shuǐ).
6. Posterior Analogy (後喻 [hou yu] hòu yù): First stating the Dharma, then setting up an analogy to illustrate it. As the sutra says, "Do not take small sins lightly, thinking they bring no harm. Though a drop of water (水滴 [shui di] shuǐ dī) is tiny, it can gradually fill a great ocean."
7. Both Prior and Posterior Analogy (先後喻 [xian hou yu] xiānhòu yù): What is stated both before and after is all in the sense of an analogy. As the sutra says, "For example, a banana tree (芭蕉 [ba jiao] bājiāo) dies when it bears fruit. Foolish people (愚人 [yu ren] yú rén) who gain nourishment are also like this. Just as a mule (騾 [luo] luó) that becomes pregnant will not live long."
8. Pervasive Analogy (徧喻 [bian yu] biàn yù): From beginning to end, it is entirely expressed through analogy. For example, fully describing the growth of the Cintamani Tree (質多羅樹 [zhi duo luo shu] Zhìduōluó shù) in Trayastriṃśa Heaven (忉利天 [dao li tian] Dāolì Tiān), and pervasively using it to symbolize Buddha's disciples (佛弟子 [fu di zi] Fó dìzǐ) and so on.
譬喻—【術語】梵云阿波陀那 Avadāna，以了知之法，顯未了知之法也。法華文句五曰：「譬者比況也，喻者曉訓也。託此比彼，寄淺訓深。（中略）動樹訓風，舉扇喻月，故言譬喻。」涅槃經二十九說八種之喻法：一，順喻，隨順世諦，次第自小向大而喻也。天降大雨，則小坑滿，小坑滿，故大坑滿，大坑滿，故乃至大海滿，如來法雨亦如是，眾生戒滿乃至解脫滿，解脫滿，故涅槃滿，是名順喻。二，逆喻，逆於世諦，次第自大向小為喻也，大海本為大河，大河本為小河，乃至溝澮本為大雨，如是如來涅槃本為解脫，乃至持戒本為法雨，是名逆喻。三，現喻，以現前事為喻也，如說眾生心性，猶如獼猴。四，非喻，假設非實事之事為喻也，如說佛告波斯匿王，有大山自四方來，欲害人民，則王如何？是假設四山譬老病生死也。五，先喻，先設譬喻，後以法合也，如說有人貪著妙花，而採取之時，為水漂流，眾生如是貪愛五欲，為生死之水漂沒。六，後喻，先說法，後設喻而顯之也，如經云勿輕小罪以為無殃，水滴雖微，漸滿大海是也。七，先後喻，先後所說皆是譬喻之意，如經云譬如芭蕉，生果則死，愚人得養，亦復如是，如騾懷妊，命不久全是也。八，徧喻，始末皆假喻而顯之也。如具說忉利天質多羅樹生長之狀，而徧喻佛弟子等。
[shù yǔ] fàn yún ā bō tuó nà Avadāna, yǐ le zhī zhī fǎ, xiǎn wèi le zhī zhī fǎ yě. fǎ huá wén jù wǔ yuē: “pì zhě bǐ kuàng yě, yù zhě xiǎo xùn yě. tuō cǐ bǐ bǐ, jì qiǎn xùn shēn. (zhōng lüè) dòng shù xùn fēng, jǔ shàn yù yuè, gù yán pì yù.” niè pán jīng èr shí jiǔ shuō bā zhǒng zhī yù fǎ: yī, shùn yù, suí shùn shì dì, cì dì zì xiǎo xiàng dà ér yù yě. tiān jiàng dà yǔ, zé xiǎo kēng mǎn, xiǎo kēng mǎn, gù dà kēng mǎn, dà kēng mǎn, gù nǎi zhì dà hǎi mǎn, rú lái fǎ yǔ yì rú shì, zhòng shēng jiè mǎn nǎi zhì jiě tuō mǎn, jiě tuō mǎn, gù niè pán mǎn, shì míng shùn yù. èr, nì yù, nì yú shì dì, cì dì zì dà xiàng xiǎo wèi yù yě, dà hǎi běn wèi dà hé, dà hé běn wèi xiǎo hé, nǎi zhì gōu huì běn wèi dà yǔ, rú shì rú lái niè pán běn wèi jiě tuō, nǎi zhì chí jiè běn wèi fǎ yǔ, shì míng nì yù. sān, xiàn yù, yǐ xiàn qián shì wèi yù yě, rú shuō zhòng shēng xīn xìng, yóu rú mí hóu. sì, fēi yù, jiǎ shè fēi shí shì zhī shì wèi yù yě, rú shuō fú gào bō sī nì wáng, yǒu dà shān zì sì fāng lái, yù hài rén mín, zé wáng rú hé？ shì jiǎ shè sì shān pì lǎo bìng shēng sǐ yě. wǔ, xiān yù, xiān shè pì yù, hòu yǐ fǎ hé yě, rú shuō yǒu rén tān zhe miào huā, ér cǎi qǔ zhī shí, wèi shuǐ piào liú, zhòng shēng rú shì tān ài wǔ yù, wèi shēng sǐ zhī shuǐ piào méi. liù, hòu yù, xiān shuō fǎ, hòu shè yù ér xiǎn zhī yě, rú jīng yún wù qīng xiǎo zuì yǐ wèi wú yāng, shuǐ dī suī wēi, jiàn mǎn dà hǎi shì yě. qī, xiān hòu yù, xiān hòu suǒ shuō jiē shì pì yù zhī yì, rú jīng yún pì rú bā jiāo, shēng guǒ zé sǐ, yú rén dé yǎng, yì fù rú shì, rú luó huái rèn, mìng bù jiǔ quán shì yě. bā, biàn yù, shǐ mò jiē jiǎ yù ér xiǎn zhī yě. rú jù shuō dāo lì tiān zhì duō luó shù shēng zhǎng zhī zhuàng, ér biàn yù fú dì zi děng.
[shu yu] fan yun a bo tuo na Avadana, yi le zhi zhi fa, xian wei le zhi zhi fa ye. fa hua wen ju wu yue: "pi zhe bi kuang ye, yu zhe xiao xun ye. tuo ci bi bi, ji qian xun shen. (zhong lue) dong shu xun feng, ju shan yu yue, gu yan pi yu." nie pan jing er shi jiu shuo ba zhong zhi yu fa: yi, shun yu, sui shun shi di, ci di zi xiao xiang da er yu ye. tian jiang da yu, ze xiao keng man, xiao keng man, gu da keng man, da keng man, gu nai zhi da hai man, ru lai fa yu yi ru shi, zhong sheng jie man nai zhi jie tuo man, jie tuo man, gu nie pan man, shi ming shun yu. er, ni yu, ni yu shi di, ci di zi da xiang xiao wei yu ye, da hai ben wei da he, da he ben wei xiao he, nai zhi gou hui ben wei da yu, ru shi ru lai nie pan ben wei jie tuo, nai zhi chi jie ben wei fa yu, shi ming ni yu. san, xian yu, yi xian qian shi wei yu ye, ru shuo zhong sheng xin xing, you ru mi hou. si, fei yu, jia she fei shi shi zhi shi wei yu ye, ru shuo fu gao bo si ni wang, you da shan zi si fang lai, yu hai ren min, ze wang ru he? shi jia she si shan pi lao bing sheng si ye. wu, xian yu, xian she pi yu, hou yi fa he ye, ru shuo you ren tan zhe miao hua, er cai qu zhi shi, wei shui piao liu, zhong sheng ru shi tan ai wu yu, wei sheng si zhi shui piao mei. liu, hou yu, xian shuo fa, hou she yu er xian zhi ye, ru jing yun wu qing xiao zui yi wei wu yang, shui di sui wei, jian man da hai shi ye. qi, xian hou yu, xian hou suo shuo jie shi pi yu zhi yi, ru jing yun pi ru ba jiao, sheng guo ze si, yu ren de yang, yi fu ru shi, ru luo huai ren, ming bu jiu quan shi ye. ba, bian yu, shi mo jie jia yu er xian zhi ye. ru ju shuo dao li tian zhi duo luo shu sheng zhang zhi zhuang, er bian yu fu di zi deng.
1) 譬喻 ts = pì yù p refers to [noun] “example; dṛṣṭānta”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao]; Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: dṛṣṭānta, Tibetan: dpe (BCSD '譬如 [pi ru]', p. 1098; Mahāvyutpatti 'dṛṣṭāntaḥ'; MW 'dṛṣṭānta'; SH '譬如 [pi ru]', p. 481).
2) 譬喻 ts = pì yù p refers to [noun] “Avadana (parables); Apadāna”; Domain: Buddhism 佛教 [fu jiao]; Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: avadāna, Tibetan: rtogs pa brjod pa'i sde; explains the teachings of the Buddha in the form of parables; one of the 十二部经 [shi er bu jing] 'twelve divisions of the sutras' (FGDB '南傳大藏經 [nan chuan da cang jing]'; FGDB '譬喻 [pi yu]'; Mahāvyutpatti 'avadānam'; PPN 'Apadāna'; SH '譬如 [pi ru]', p. 481; Tzu Chuang 2012, pp. 329-332)..
Chinese Buddhism (漢傳佛教, hanchuan fojiao) is the form of Buddhism that developed in China, blending Mahayana teachings with Daoist and Confucian thought. Its texts are mainly in Classical Chinese, based on translations from Sanskrit. Major schools include Chan (Zen), Pure Land, Tiantai, and Huayan. Chinese Buddhism has greatly influenced East Asian religion and culture.
Biology (plants and animals)
Pi-yu in China is the name of a plant defined with Triadica sebifera in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Sapium sebiferum var. pendulum B.C. Ding & T.B. Chao (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Flora Tsinlingensis (1981)
· Flora Henanensis (1988)
· Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica (1956)
· Fl. Cochinch. (1790)
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1981)
· Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica (1982)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Pi-yu, for example side effects, chemical composition, health benefits, extract dosage, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Chinese-English dictionary
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
批語 [pī yǔ] [pi yu]—
1. The words or remarks used when annotating official documents (批示公文 [pi shi gong wen]). From Fuhui Quanshu (福惠全書 [fu hui quan shu]) · Volume 11 (卷一一 [juan yi yi]) · Department of Criminal Cases (刑名部 [xing ming bu]) · Registration (掛號 [gua hao]): "In each period, approved petitions (呈狀 [cheng zhuang]) are handed over to the administrator (經管 [jing guan]) for registration (掛號 [gua hao]). The specific details (殊語 [shu yu]), the names (姓名 [xing ming]) of the plaintiff (原告 [yuan gao]) and the accused (被證 [bei zheng]), the comments, and the names (姓名 [xing ming]) of the handling bailiffs (承行差役 [cheng xing cha yi]) are filled in after the aforementioned matters (前件 [qian jian]), to facilitate recording how they conclude (歸結 [gui jie])."
2. Comments (評語 [ping yu]) on an article or essay (文章 [wen zhang]). From The Scholars (儒林外史 [ru lin wai shi]), Chapter 31 (第三一回 [di san yi hui]): "Therefore, I have a young son. For now, I will not teach him medicine. He will study with a tutor, and when he writes an essay (文章 [wen zhang]), he will bring it for Master Du (杜少爺 [du shao ye]) to read. When Master Du (少爺 [shao ye]) usually bestows his comments, I (晚生 [wan sheng]) also take them home to study thoroughly and learn some literary principles (文理 [wen li])."
批語：1.批示公文的言詞。《福惠全書．卷一一．刑名部．掛號》：「每期准過呈狀，付經管掛號，將殊語、原告被證姓名，批語、承行差役姓名，填寫後列前件，以便登填如何歸結。」
2.對於文章的評語。《儒林外史》第三一回：「所以我有一個小兒，而今且不教他學醫，從先生讀著書，做了文章，就拿來給杜少爺看。少爺往常賞個批語，晚生也拿了家去讀熟了，學些文理。」
pī yǔ:1. pī shì gōng wén de yán cí. < fú huì quán shū． juǎn yī yī． xíng míng bù． guà hào>: “měi qī zhǔn guò chéng zhuàng, fù jīng guǎn guà hào, jiāng shū yǔ,, yuán gào bèi zhèng xìng míng, pī yǔ,, chéng xíng chà yì xìng míng, tián xiě hòu liè qián jiàn, yǐ biàn dēng tián rú hé guī jié.”
2. duì yú wén zhāng de píng yǔ. < rú lín wài shǐ> dì sān yī huí: “suǒ yǐ wǒ yǒu yī gè xiǎo ér, ér jīn qiě bù jiào tā xué yī, cóng xiān shēng dú zhe shū, zuò le wén zhāng, jiù ná lái gěi dù shǎo yé kàn. shǎo yé wǎng cháng shǎng gè pī yǔ, wǎn shēng yě ná le jiā qù dú shú le, xué xiē wén lǐ.”
pi yu:1. pi shi gong wen de yan ci. < fu hui quan shu. juan yi yi. xing ming bu. gua hao>: "mei qi zhun guo cheng zhuang, fu jing guan gua hao, jiang shu yu,, yuan gao bei zheng xing ming, pi yu,, cheng xing cha yi xing ming, tian xie hou lie qian jian, yi bian deng tian ru he gui jie."
2. dui yu wen zhang de ping yu. < ru lin wai shi> di san yi hui: "suo yi wo you yi ge xiao er, er jin qie bu jiao ta xue yi, cong xian sheng du zhe shu, zuo le wen zhang, jiu na lai gei du shao ye kan. shao ye wang chang shang ge pi yu, wan sheng ye na le jia qu du shu le, xue xie wen li."
1) 批語 t = 批语 s = pī yǔ p refers to “criticism/commentary”.
2) 譬喻 ts = pì yù p refers to “analogy/metaphor/simile”..
譬喻 ts = pì yù p refers to [noun] “simile; rhetorical comparison; analogy”; Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 [xian dai han yu]; Notes: (CC-CEDICT '譬喻 [pi yu]'; Guoyu '譬喻 [pi yu]').
譬喩 [pì yù] refers to: “parable”.
譬喩 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Related Chinese terms] 喩; 阿波陀那; 喩法.
[Sanskrit] aupamyodāharaṇa; dṛṣṭānta-dharma; prayāya.
[Pali] apadāna.
[Tibetan] rtogs par brjod pa'i sde.
[Vietnamese] thí dụ.
[Korean] 비유 / biyu.
[Japanese] ヒユ / hiyu.
Chinese language.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ao, Yu, Yu, Pi, Bei, Bi.
Full-text (+1165): Pi yu lun shi, Pi yu shi, Pi yu bu, Pi yu liang, Pi yu jing, Pi yu pin, Za pi yu jing, Fa ju pi yu jing, Wu yin pi yu jing, Pi yu zhe, Bai ju pi yu ji jing, Bai ju pi yu jing, Jiu za pi yu jing, Da ji pi yu wang jing, Piyu, Piyush, Wu yun pi yu jing, Liu du pi yu, Zhong jing zhuan za pi yu, Wu pi yu.
Relevant text
Search found 10 books and stories containing Pi-yu, Pì yù, Pī yǔ, Pìyù, Piyu, Pīyǔ, 批語, 批语, 譬喩, 譬喻; (plurals include: yus, Pì yùs, Pī yǔs, Pìyùs, Piyus, Pīyǔs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
Sutta 10: The Four Kinds of Clouds and Four Kinds of People < [Part 125 - Ekottara-Agama (Numbered Discourses)]
Sutta 2: The Importance of Self-Control < [Part 150a - Discourse on Seven Places and Three Subjects for Contemplation]
Sutta 5: The Parable of the Raft < [Part 125 - Ekottara-Agama (Numbered Discourses)]
From the Imagination to the Reality < [Volume 14, Issue 4 (2023)]
How to Protect One’s Home in Medieval China? A Study of the... < [Volume 14, Issue 3 (2023)]
The “Adbhuta-Dharma” Narratives in Translated Chinese... < [Volume 14, Issue 5 (2023)]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)
Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies
The Vicissitudes of the Story of Therī Paṭācārā < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 6.1 (2023)]
‘Method from Persia’: Study on the Origins of the ‘Three Myrobalan Decoction’ < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 4.2 (2021)]
Mahāsāṃghika and Mahāyāna < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 2.1 (2019)]
Buddhacarita (by Charles Willemen)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 310 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 1]