evil courses　悪趣 A term to describe the worlds of transmigration. It refers to the several modes of existence, to which sentient beings are destined as a consequence of their own evil deeds. There are three usages: 1) the “six evil courses” i.e., hell, the realms of hungry spirits, beasts, fighting spirits, human beings, and heavenly beings; 2) the “five evil courses” with the exclusion of the realm of fighting spirits; 3) the “three evil courses”, i.e., hell and the realms of hungry spirits and beasts.