Buddhist Tripiṭaka Explorer
Exploring the Three Baskets of Buddhist Scripture
Etymology
Tripiṭaka (Sanskrit: त्रिपिटक) means “Three Baskets”
From Sanskrit: tri (three) + piṭaka (basket)
The Three Baskets
Vinaya Piṭaka
Monastic discipline and rules
Sūtra Piṭaka
Doctrinal teachings and discourses
Abhidharma Piṭaka
Philosophical and scholastic works
Translations Across Cultures
Buddhist Canons
Pāli Canon (Theravāda)
Language: Pāli
Region: Southeast Asia
Tradition: Theravāda Buddhism
Notable features: Complete Tripiṭaka preserved in Pāli language. Contains 32 books organized in three baskets.
Famous editions: Chattha Sangayana Tipitaka, Buddha Jayanthi Tripitaka, Thai Tipitaka
Chinese Buddhist Canon
Language: Chinese
Region: East Asia
Tradition: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Notable features: Contains texts translated from Sanskrit, Gandhārī, and other Indian languages. Includes Mahāyāna Sūtras and Tantric texts.
Famous editions: Tripitaka Koreana, Taishō Tripiṭaka
Tibetan Buddhist Canon
Language: Tibetan
Region: Tibet, Mongolia, Himalayas
Tradition: Tibetan Buddhism
Structure: Kangyur (Buddha’s words) and Tengyur (commentaries)
Notable features: Includes both sutrayana and tantric texts.
Major editions: Derge, Lhasa, Peking, and Jiang editions
Mongolian Buddhist Canon
Language: Classical Mongolian
Region: Mongolia
Tradition: Mongolian Buddhism
Notable features: Based on Tibetan canon but with unique Mongolian texts. Translated from Tibetan Kangyur and Tengyur.
Nepalese Sanskrit Buddhist Canon
Language: Sanskrit
Region: Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)
Tradition: Newar Buddhism
Notable features: Preserved many Sanskrit Buddhist texts. Important center for Buddhist scholarship after destruction of Indian monasteries.