Pali literature

Part of a series on
Theravāda Buddhism
Countries Bangladesh Cambodia China India Laos Myanmar Nepal Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam Western world
Texts Pāli Tipiṭaka Paracanonical texts Commentaries Sub-commentaries Vimuttimagga Visuddhimagga Abhidhammavatara Abhidhammattha-sangaha Yogāvacara's manual
History Pre-sectarian Buddhism Early schools Sthaviras Buddhist councils Vibhajjavada Mahāvihāra Dipavamsa Mahavamsa Pali Text Society
Schools Buddhist modernism Vipassana movement Thai Forest Tradition Sri Lankan Forest Tradition Southern Esoteric Buddhism
Doctrine Abhidhamma Anattā Arhat Five precepts Jhana Kammaṭṭhāna Saṃsāra Nibbāna Meditation Middle Way Seven Aids to Awakening Mindfulness Noble Eightfold Path Four Divine Abodes Four Noble Truths Enlightenment Stages Precepts Three Jewels Vinaya
Key figures Moggaliputta-Tissa Mahinda Sanghamitta Tissa Buddhaghoṣa Buddhadatta Dhammapāla Parakramabahu I Sāriputta Thera Anawrahta Ram Khamhaeng Sumangala Thera Anagarika Dharmapala Mongkut Vajirananavarorasa Ledi Sayadaw U Nu U Nārada Mahasi Sayadaw U Ba Khin S. N. Goenka Mun Bhuridatta Ajahn Chah Maha Ghosananda Kripasaran Mahapragya Pragyananda K. Sri Dhammananda Narada Mahathera Asoka Weeraratna Walpola Rahula Jayatilleke Kalupahana U Dhammaloka Nyanatiloka Nanamoli Nyanaponika Bhikkhu Bodhi Ajahn Sumedho Ajahn Brahm Analayo Varanggana Vanavichayen Dhammananda Bhikkhuni Ayya Tathaaloka Ayya Khema Kee Nanayon Dipa Ma
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Pali literature is concerned mainly with Theravada Buddhism, of which Pali is the traditional language. The earliest and most important Pali literature constitutes the Pāli Canon, the authoritative scriptures of Theravada school.

Pali literature includes numerous genres, including Suttas (Buddhist discourses), Vinaya (monastic discipline), Abhidhamma (philosophy), poetry, history, philology, hagiography, scriptural exegesis, and meditation manuals.