Pali Canon (Tipiṭaka)

At a glance

History, context & interpretation

The text and its story

The Vinaya (monastic rules), Sutta (discourses) and Abhidhamma (philosophy). It is the scripture of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Traditional attribution

The words of the Buddha, recited at the First Council after his death.

Historical scholarship

Passed down orally by monks, then written on palm leaves at Aluvihara in Sri Lanka.

Context and curiosity

In Myanmar, the whole canon was carved on 729 marble slabs at Kuthodaw Pagoda, sometimes called the world's largest book.

Chronology and transmission

This text belongs to Buddhism (India & Sri Lanka). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as taught c. 5th century BCE; written c. 1st century BCE and original language or script as Pali. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.

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Sources and further reading

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li_Canon

Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.