Home›Sources›The Princeton Dictionary of BuddhismSourcesThe Princeton Dictionary of BuddhismCitation FormatsGeneral ReferenceGeneral Reference Citation TextDivinity Atlas. "The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/the-princeton-dictionary-of-buddhism.Copy General ReferenceAPA StyleAPA Style Citation TextDivinity Atlas. (n.d.). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/the-princeton-dictionary-of-buddhismCopy APA StyleBibTeXBibTeX Citation Text@misc{divinityatlas-the-princeton-dictionary-of-buddhism, author = {Divinity Atlas}, title = {The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism}, year = {2026}, url = {https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/the-princeton-dictionary-of-buddhism}, note = {Accessed August 30, 2026} }Copy BibTeXThis dictionary was compiled by scholars working across the Buddhist traditions of South, Southeast, East and Central Asia specifically so that a single reference could define terms consistently across regions that are more often treated separately, which is a genuine editorial undertaking rather than a claim resting on its press. This record has not independently traced a documented history of corrections across its printings. It is a strong source for defining Buddhist terminology and identifying schools, including the named division into Theravada monastic lineages this atlas has drawn from it. It summarizes a field rather than arguing a position, so a live scholarly dispute about a specific school or text may need a more specialized study alongside it.FactsCross-Tradition ConnectionsClaims Backed By This Source (3,705 claims)Comments (0)Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)FactsCitationAuthorWell-attestedRobert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr.PublisherWell-attestedPrinceton University PressPublication YearWell-attested2014URLWell-attestedhttps://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691157863/the-princeton-dictionary-of-buddhismSource TypeWell-attestedreferenceAssessmentReliability TierWell-attested1A single volume scholarly dictionary from a university press, written by two leading specialists in Buddhist studies, the standard current academic reference across Buddhist schools and traditions.NotesWell-attestedAuthoritative reference; added for Theravada nikayas, 2026-07-22.Cross-Tradition ConnectionsAssociated WithAsia, Continents Well-attested This source names Asia directly: "of South, Southeast, East and Central Asia specifically so that a single reference could define terms consistently across regions that are more often treated separately, which is a genuine editorial..."Source The Princeton Dictionary of BuddhismRobert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr.tier 1Theravada, Denominations Well-attested This source names Theravada directly: "including the named division into Theravada monastic lineages this atlas has drawn from it."Source The Princeton Dictionary of BuddhismRobert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr.tier 1Claims Backed By This Source (3,705 claims)This source backs 3,705 claims across the atlas. As facts: 2,504 well-attested, 27 scholarly debate, 1 open question. As cited relationships: 538 holds, 73 connected, 4 critiqued Here, 3 rejected Here, 24 held Differently. Plus 531 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.Disposition By TopicArticles, 714 claims: 586 well-attested, 3 holds, 58 connected, 67 general references.Denominations, 517 claims: 285 well-attested, 3 scholarly debate, 172 holds, 7 connected, 2 critiqued Here, 3 rejected Here, 22 held Differently, 23 general references.Figures, 338 claims: 267 well-attested, 9 scholarly debate, 30 holds, 32 general references.Historical Figures, 335 claims: 227 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 open question, 64 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 41 general references.Deities, 324 claims: 259 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 30 holds, 33 general references.Alphabet Letters, 229 claims: 87 well-attested, 60 holds, 82 general references.Sacred Sites, 154 claims: 118 well-attested, 18 holds, 18 general references.Virtues, 115 claims: 79 well-attested, 4 scholarly debate, 12 holds, 6 connected, 14 general references.Practices, 100 claims: 79 well-attested, 10 holds, 11 general references.Doctrines, 99 claims: 29 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 36 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 2 held Differently, 30 general references.Mantras, 84 claims: 69 well-attested, 5 holds, 10 general references.Rituals, 65 claims: 37 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 16 holds, 11 general references.Scriptures & Texts, 57 claims: 37 well-attested, 6 holds, 14 general references.Sacred Objects & Ritual Items, 55 claims: 36 well-attested, 9 holds, 10 general references.Religious Offices, 54 claims: 29 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 17 holds, 7 general references.Religious Roles & Titles, 49 claims: 32 well-attested, 6 holds, 11 general references.Holidays & Festivals, 43 claims: 29 well-attested, 5 holds, 9 general references.Beliefs & Restrictions, 42 claims: 13 well-attested, 29 general references.Mudras, 42 claims: 32 well-attested, 10 general references.Organizations, 34 claims: 20 well-attested, 5 holds, 9 general references.Other Writings, 29 claims: 21 well-attested, 5 holds, 3 general references.Vices, 29 claims: 23 well-attested, 1 holds, 5 general references.Esoteric Texts, 22 claims: 12 well-attested, 1 holds, 9 general references.Observance Rules, 22 claims: 12 well-attested, 6 holds, 2 connected, 2 general references.Sacred Architecture, 18 claims: 4 well-attested, 7 holds, 7 general references.Sacred Art & Iconography, 17 claims: 14 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.Subcategories, 13 claims: 10 well-attested, 3 general references.Pilgrimage Routes, 12 claims: 7 well-attested, 3 holds, 2 general references.Categories, 11 claims: 9 well-attested, 2 general references.Sources, 10 claims: 8 well-attested, 2 holds.Directions, 8 claims: 4 well-attested, 4 general references.Open Questions, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.Religions, 8 claims: 4 well-attested, 3 scholarly debate, 1 general references.Scholarly Disciplines, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 2 general references.Councils and Synods, 6 claims: 1 well-attested, 3 holds, 2 general references.Religious Dress & Vestments, 6 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 general references.Calendars, 5 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 holds, 2 general references.Godai (Five Elements), 5 claims: 5 general references.Scripture Portions, 4 claims: 1 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 1 general references.Spread Events, 4 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.Mythical Creatures, 3 claims: 1 well-attested, 2 general references.Animals & Totems, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.Prayers, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.Religious Events, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.Empires & Polities, 1 claims: 1 general references.Well-attested2,504Alphabet LettersMongolian A ᠠMongolian Ang ᠩMongolian Ba ᠪMongolian Cha ᠴMongolian Chi ᡂMongolian Da ᠳMongolian E ᠡMongolian Ee ᠧMongolian Fa ᠹMongolian Ga ᠭMongolian Haa ᠾMongolian I ᠢMongolian Ja ᠵMongolian Ka ᠺMongolian Kha ᠻMongolian La ᠯMongolian Lha ᡀMongolian Ma ᠮMongolian Na ᠨMongolian O ᠣMongolian Oe ᠥMongolian Pa ᠫMongolian Qa ᠬMongolian Ra ᠷMongolian Sa ᠰMongolian Sha ᠱMongolian Ta ᠲMongolian Tsa ᠼMongolian U ᠤMongolian Ue ᠦMongolian Wa ᠸMongolian Ya ᠶMongolian Za ᠽMongolian Zhi ᡁMongolian Zra ᠿSiddham A 𑖀Siddham Aa 𑖁Siddham Ai 𑖋Siddham Au 𑖍Siddham Ba 𑖤Siddham Bha 𑖥Siddham Ca 𑖓Siddham Cha 𑖔Siddham Da 𑖟Siddham Dda 𑖚Siddham Ddha 𑖛Siddham Dha 𑖠Siddham E 𑖊Siddham Ga 𑖐Siddham Gha 𑖑Showing 1 to 50 of 785 entities carrying this claim. NextScholarly debate27DeitiesNagarjunaWhite TaraDenominationsGelugKagyuTendaiDoctrinesJhanaFiguresHuinengMachig LabdronMarpaMayaNaropaYeshe TsogyalHistorical FiguresWonhyoReligionsBuddhismReligious OfficesBhikkhuniRitualsForty-Nine Day RitesScripture PortionsAbhidhamma PitakaVirtuesBala (Spiritual Power)Jnana (Transcendent Knowledge)Pranidhana (The Vow)Upaya-kausalya (Skillful Means)Open question1Historical FiguresLinji YixuanHolds538Alphabet LettersSiddham A 𑖀Siddham Aa 𑖁Siddham Ai 𑖋Siddham Au 𑖍Siddham Ba 𑖤Siddham Bha 𑖥Siddham Ca 𑖓Siddham Cha 𑖔Siddham Da 𑖟Siddham Dda 𑖚Siddham Ddha 𑖛Siddham Dha 𑖠Siddham E 𑖊Siddham Ga 𑖐Siddham Gha 𑖑Siddham Ha 𑖮Siddham I 𑖂Siddham Ii 𑖃Siddham Ja 𑖕Siddham Jha 𑖖Siddham Ka 𑖎Siddham Kha 𑖏Siddham La 𑖩Siddham Ma 𑖦Siddham Na 𑖡Siddham Nga 𑖒Siddham Nna 𑖜Siddham Nya 𑖗Siddham O 𑖌Siddham Pa 𑖢Siddham Pha 𑖣Siddham Ra 𑖨Siddham Sa 𑖭Siddham Sha 𑖫Siddham Ssa 𑖬Siddham Ta 𑖝Siddham Tha 𑖞Siddham Tta 𑖘Siddham Ttha 𑖙Siddham U 𑖄Siddham Uu 𑖅Siddham Va 𑖪Siddham Vocalic L 𑖈Siddham Vocalic Ll 𑖉Siddham Vocalic R 𑖆Siddham Vocalic Rr 𑖇Siddham Ya 𑖧ArticlesA Hungarian Scholar Walks to Tibet and Builds the First DictionaryBurnouf Opens the Sanskrit Manuscripts Hodgson Sent HomeThree Circuits Organized Around a Life, a Number, and a CompanionShowing 1 to 50 of 252 entities carrying this claim. NextConnected73ArticlesA Church of England Child Reads the Diamond Sutra and Becomes a Buddhist at SixteenA Claim Not Shared Across the Schools Descended From NichirenA Collective Vow Before an Image Founds a Pure Land PracticeA Dance Carries a Doctrine Through Markets and BeachesA Founding Title Arrives After the Founder Is GoneA Hut, a Wall and a Near-Fatal Illness: How Bankei AwakenedA Ladder With Nine RungsA Life With No Temple: Ryokan's Hermit PoetryA Monk of Sogdian Descent States Interpenetration in Words With Indra's Net of JewelsA Place for Nuns: Ayya Khema's Institutional LegacyA Shrine Revelation Removes the Need for FaithA Translator's Own Conversion Founds a SchoolA Treasury Built to Outlast a Sect: Kongtrul and the Rime MovementA Zen Teacher Also Brings Home a Second LegacyAn Older Map That the Later Schools RedrewBefore Ajahn Amaro, an Eight Hundred Mile Walk to Prove ItBefore Ajahn Sumedho, a Navy Medic and a Peace Corps TeacherBefore North America, Chogyam Trungpa's Nine-Month Escape From TibetBefore Pema: Deirdre Blomfield-Brown's Path to the RobesBefore San Francisco, Shunryu Suzuki Trained Under Gyokujun So-on in JapanBefore the Nuns' Island, a Refugee Childhood and Wartime Internment Preceded MeditationBorn to a Bon Family, Kongtrul Is Sent to PalpungBuddha-Nature in Grass and Trees: Zhanran's Extension of Tiantai DoctrineCarrying the Forest Tradition to the WestFive Terraces for One Bodhisattva: Manjushri's Living Cult at Mount WutaiFounding the Caodong School With Caoshan BenjiFrom a Buddhism Class to Tassajara: Suzuki's American ZenFrom Chithurst to Abhayagiri: A Second Generation Crosses the AtlanticFrom Critic to Abbot: Ikkyu's Two CareersFrom Twelve Fruitless Years to the Teachings of TusitaGampo Abbey and the Work of ContinuationGenshin Founds a Society of Monks for Mutual Deathbed PracticeIn Old Age, Ikkyu Sojun Takes the Blind Singer Mori as His CompanionKensho, Seeing One's Own Nature in Rinzai DoctrineKshitigarbha's Vow for the Buddha-less AgeMahasi Sayadaw Serves as Chief Questioner at the Sixth Buddhist CouncilOne Sutra, One Chant: Nichiren's Declaration and Its CostOne Teaching Seat Becomes Eleven Across a PeninsulaRefuge Before Sect: Sangharakshita's Founding ChoiceRise and Fall: How the New Burmese Method SpreadRyokan and Teishin: The Nun Who Saved His PoemsSeongcheol Sits for Eight Years and Makes Visitors Bow Three Thousand TimesShunryu Suzuki's Class That Became a Zen CenterSudden and Sudden: Seongcheol's Direct Challenge to JinulTassajara, the First Zen Monastery Founded Outside AsiaTeaching in Plain Speech: Bankei and the UnbornTen Years at Nalanda and a Return to TranslationThe Cult of Kshitigarbha: From Jiuhua Shan to the Roadside ShrineThe Discipline and the History Daoxuan CompiledThe Mirror of the Seon School, Before the WarShowing 1 to 50 of 70 entities carrying this claim. NextCritiqued Here4DenominationsJodo ShinshuDoctrinesMappo (The Latter Age of the Dharma)Historical FiguresSeongcheolRejected Here3DenominationsGelugKarma KagyuTibetan BuddhismHeld Differently24DenominationsJodo ShinshuNichiren ShoshuNyingmaRinzaiShingonSotoTendaiTheravadaTiantaiTibetan BuddhismVajrayanaZenDoctrinesKarmaGeneral References531Alphabet LettersMongolian A ᠠMongolian Ang ᠩMongolian Ba ᠪMongolian Cha ᠴMongolian Chi ᡂMongolian Da ᠳMongolian E ᠡMongolian Ee ᠧMongolian Fa ᠹMongolian Ga ᠭMongolian Haa ᠾMongolian I ᠢMongolian Ja ᠵMongolian Ka ᠺMongolian Kha ᠻMongolian La ᠯMongolian Lha ᡀMongolian Ma ᠮMongolian Na ᠨMongolian O ᠣMongolian Oe ᠥMongolian Pa ᠫMongolian Qa ᠬMongolian Ra ᠷMongolian Sa ᠰMongolian Sha ᠱMongolian Ta ᠲMongolian Tsa ᠼMongolian U ᠤMongolian Ue ᠦMongolian Wa ᠸMongolian Ya ᠶMongolian Za ᠽMongolian Zhi ᡁMongolian Zra ᠿSiddham A 𑖀Siddham Aa 𑖁Siddham Ai 𑖋Siddham Au 𑖍Siddham Ba 𑖤Siddham Bha 𑖥Siddham Ca 𑖓Siddham Cha 𑖔Siddham Da 𑖟Siddham Dda 𑖚Siddham Ddha 𑖛Siddham Dha 𑖠Siddham E 𑖊Siddham Ga 𑖐Siddham Gha 𑖑Showing 1 to 50 of 521 entities carrying this claim. 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