Fourth Buddhist Council (Theravada)
E946621
The Fourth Buddhist Council (Theravada) was a pivotal Theravada Buddhist assembly, traditionally held in Sri Lanka in the 1st century BCE, where the Pali Canon was first written down to preserve the teachings.
Statements (43)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Buddhist council
ⓘ
religious assembly ⓘ |
| approximateDate | c. 29–17 BCE ⓘ |
| associatedMonastery | Aluvihara Rock Temple NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
Anuradhapura period
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka ⓘ |
| canonicalStatus | recognized in Theravada tradition ⓘ |
| category |
Buddhism in Sri Lanka
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Events in 1st-century BCE Buddhism ⓘ Theravada Buddhist councils NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| country | Sri Lanka ⓘ |
| distinguishedFrom | Fourth Buddhist Council (Sarvastivada) NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| doctrinalSchool | Theravada NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| focus | preservation rather than doctrinal debate ⓘ |
| heldDuringReignOf | King Vattagamani Abhaya NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| impact |
foundation for later Theravada transmission to Southeast Asia
ⓘ
stabilization of Theravada canon in Sri Lanka ⓘ |
| language | Pali NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| leadingElder |
Mahinda Thera (traditionally associated background)
ⓘ
Rakkhita Thera (in some traditions) NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| location | Anuradhapura Kingdom NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| mainMonasticCommunity | Mahavihara monks NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| material | ola leaves ⓘ |
| medium | palm-leaf manuscripts ⓘ |
| method | recitation and compilation by learned monks ⓘ |
| organizedBy | King Vattagamani Abhaya NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| precededBy | Third Buddhist Council NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| preservedText |
Abhidhamma Pitaka
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Sutta Pitaka NERFINISHED ⓘ Tipitaka NERFINISHED ⓘ Vinaya Pitaka NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| purpose |
to commit the Pali Canon to writing
ⓘ
to preserve the Buddha’s teachings ⓘ |
| reason |
decline in oral memorization due to famine and unrest
ⓘ
fear that the oral tradition might be lost ⓘ |
| region | Matale District NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| religiousSignificance | major milestone in safeguarding the Buddha’s teachings ⓘ |
| religiousTradition | Theravada Buddhism NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| result |
first written redaction of the Pali Canon
ⓘ
standardization of Theravada textual tradition ⓘ |
| script | Sinhala script NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| timePeriod | 1st century BCE ⓘ |
| traditionHolds | Pali Canon was fully written down at this council NERFINISHED ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.