The 'gradual teaching.' （1） The teaching preached for a gradual advancement from a lower level to a higher one; the opposite of tun-chiao "sudden teaching （顿教）." （2） One of the four methods of preaching by the Buddha， according to the Tiantai sect; exposition of the teaching from a shallow to deeper level. （3） In Huayan teaching， the elementary and final doctrines of Maha^ya^na are called 渐教 because they provide methods of gradual advancement towards enlightenment. See wu-chiao 五教.