The three periods 三时of the Buddha's dispensation （dharma 法） subsequent to his passing from the world， a doctrine that held strong influence in the teachings of the Pure Land school 净土宗. They are the period of the true dharma 正法， the semblance dharma 像法， and the degenerate dharma 末法. During the period of the true dharma， Buddhist doctrines， practices， and enlightenment all exist. During the period of the semblance dharma， doctrine and practices still exist， but there is no longer any enlightenment. During the period of the degenerate （or final） dharma， the doctrine is still alive， but there is neither practice nor enlightenment. After these three periods， the doctrine itself vanishes. There are four views as to the duration of the first two periods: i. five hundred years in the period of true dharma， one thousand years in the period of semblance dharma; ii. one thousand years in the period of true dharma， 500 years in the period of semblance dharma; iii. 500 years in each period; and iv. 1000 years in each period. The period of the degenerate dharma is always regarded as lasting ten thousand years after the first two periods have ended.