‘六道’ (liù dào) is a core Buddhist concept referring to the six realms of existence into which sentient beings may be reborn, depending on their karma. These realms are: gods (天道), demi-gods (阿修罗道), humans (人道), animals (畜生道), hungry ghosts (饿鬼道), and hell beings (地狱道). The character 六 means ‘six’, and 道 literally means ‘path’ or ‘way’, here signifying distinct existential conditions or modes of rebirth.

The term appears frequently in Mahayana Buddhist texts, temple teachings, and discussions about karma and liberation. It emphasizes impermanence and suffering across all realms—even the divine—urging practitioners toward enlightenment rather than mere favorable rebirth. While not used in everyday secular conversation, it’s essential vocabulary for understanding Chinese Buddhist philosophy, art, and folklore, where depictions of the six realms (e.g., in murals or sutra illustrations) often include symbolic animals like dogs, serpents, or birds representing specific karmic tendencies.