Buddhism · Texts & transmission
Theravada tradition records the canon in writing
c. 1st century BCE
Theravada tradition places the writing down of the Pali canon in Sri Lanka in the first century BCE. Teachings had been preserved through oral recitation. Writing added a medium of transmission, without ending recitation or settling every question about the collections’ development.
Why it matters
This provides context for the Pali works in the reading collection while distinguishing the date of writing from the earlier formation of teachings.
About the date
Traditional account of writing in Sri Lanka; individual texts have different earlier histories.
Sri Lanka
Island-level location stated by the source; no specific writing site asserted.
region orientation
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