pañcavidyā (T. rig gnas che ba lnga; C. wuming 五明), or "five sciences", are five major classes of knowledge (vidyā) which bodhisattvas are said to have mastered. This grouping is also known as pañcavidyāsthāna.
The five sciences are:
- the "science of language" (śabda vidyā; shēng-míng, 聲明);
- the "science of logic" (hetu vidyā; yīn-míng, 因明);
- the "science of medicine" (cikitsā vidyā; yào-míng, 藥明);
- the "science of fine arts and crafts" (śilpa-karma-sthāna vidyā; gōngqiǎo-míng, 工巧明);
- the "inner science" of spirituality (adhyātma vidyā; nèi-míng, 內明) which relates to the study of the Tripiṭaka.
A recognised master of all five sciences is afforded the title paṇḍita.
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