Contents of the Tibetan Tripitaka

　　Buddhism originated in India and enjoyed great influence there for a 1,800-year period from the 6th century B.C. to 12th century A.D. This stretch of history can be divided into three 600-year periods. The first 600-year period saw the rise of primeval Buddhism and its sects. Pali Tripitaka, also called Southern Tripitaka, is a collection of Buddhist classics created during this period. The second 600-year period was dominated by Mahayana Buddhism, and the third 600-year period was the age of Tantrism. Chinese and Tibetan editions of Tripitaka are the general collection of Buddhist classics in the second and third periods. The three languages of Buddhism spread in China today--Tibetan Buddhism included--are Buddhism which inherit the cream of Buddhism of the three Indian periods. The most complete form of Tantrism and Buddhism and Buddhist classics are in China. Since Buddhism was spread to China, the interpretation and printing work of Buddhist classics has never stopped. Fangshan scripture inscribed in stone, for example, has lasted 1,000 years. China's Buddhism can be described as an all-inclusive ideological and cultural movement, which, having endured for the longest period in the world, has far-reaching influence on human history. It fully embodies the prolonged continuity and strong unity of Chinese culture.

　　Tibetan Buddhism, which "ruled'' the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau for over 1,000 years, is well-known for its voluminous Buddhist scriptures with rich contents and abstruse philosophy. The Tibetan Tripitaka is universally recognized as an encyclopedic scripture, which, including the Gangyur and Dangyur, contains more than 4,570 Buddhist classics.

　　The Gangyur is a Buddhist classic. It contains teachings of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, which were recorded by his disciples during six gatherings held after his death. It consists of three "pitakas''--sutrapitaka which contains statements and teachings of Sakyamuni, vinaya-pitaka which contains precepts or disciplinary codes for Buddhist monks, and abhidharma-pitaka which contains treatises or explanations and research on Buddhist doctrines--and four supplementary works. They fall into the seven categories of vinaya (monastic rule), Prajna, buddhavatamsaka-mahavaipulya (Garland), Maha-rafna-kuta (Great Gem-Heap), sutrapitaka, supplement and general contents. The Dangyur is a collection of annotations and papers on the Gangyur by Indian and Tibetan Buddhist masters, scholars and translators. They cover philosophy, literature, arts, linguistics, logic, astronomy, medicine, the calendar, handicrafts and architecture. There are a total of 18 categories, including psalms and hymns, supplement, Prajna, Madyamika-sastra, commentary on Buddhist scriptures, idealism, Abhidharma kosa-sastra, monastic rule, stories of Buddha's previous incarnation, letter of correspondence, Hetuvidya-sastra, grammar and composition, medicine, arts and mathematics, self-cultivation, miscellaneous collection of works, works by Atisa, and general contents.