兼但对带

The first four of the five periods of Buddha's teaching are also defined by Tiantai as:

(1) 兼 Combined teaching; including 圓 and 別教 doctrine, the period of the <Avataṃsaka Sutra>.

(2) 但 Sole; i.e. 藏 or Hīnayāna only, that of the (sa) agamas.

(3) 對 Comparative; all four forms of doctrines being compared. 帶 Inclusive, that of the 般若 <Prajñā>, when the perfect teaching was revealed as the fulfilment of the rest.