Sources

Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/theravada-buddhism-a-social-history-from-ancient-benares-to-modern-colombo.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/theravada-buddhism-a-social-history-from-ancient-benares-to-modern-colombo

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-theravada-buddhism-a-social-history-from,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://dev-divinity.interactiveatlas.org/sources/theravada-buddhism-a-social-history-from-ancient-benares-to-modern-colombo},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Richard Gombrich's social history is now in a revised second edition, incorporating correction and updated material since the first, a real, checkable sign of sustained scholarly engagement rather than a claim resting on the publisher's name. It traces the documented sangha-laity relationship, the alms economy and temporary ordination practice in Southeast Asia from ancient Benares through to modern Colombo, grounded in the historical and social record rather than doctrinal text alone. This record has not independently traced further scholarly disagreement with Gombrich's specific claims since the second edition. Use it for the social history of the Theravada sangha and its relationship to lay society; a claim resting purely on canonical doctrine needs a dedicated textual source.

Facts

Citation

Author

Richard Gombrich

Publisher

Routledge

Publication Year

2006

URL

https://www.routledge.com/Theravada-Buddhism-A-Social-History-from-Ancient-Benares-to-Modern-Colombo/Gombrich/p/book/9780415365093

Source Type

academic monograph

Assessment

Reliability Tier

Richard Gombrich's social history, now in a revised second edition incorporating correction and updated material since the first; it traces the documented sangha-laity relationship and the alms economy from the historical and social record rather than doctrinal text alone.

Notes

Second edition. Used for the sangha-laity relationship, the alms economy, and temporary ordination in Southeast Asia.

Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Asia

This source names Asia directly: "ordination practice in Southeast Asia from ancient Benares through to modern Colombo, grounded in the historical and social record rather than doctrinal text alone."

Source Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern ColomboRichard Gombrich

Theravada

This source names Theravada directly: "Use it for the social history of the Theravada sangha and its relationship to lay society; a claim resting purely on canonical doctrine needs a dedicated textual source."

Source Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern ColomboRichard Gombrich

Claims Backed By This Source (219 claims)

This source backs 219 claims across the atlas. As facts: 128 well-attested, 3 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 49 holds, 1 connected. Plus 38 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Articles, 44 claims: 40 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 connected, 2 general references.
Organizations, 36 claims: 23 well-attested, 9 holds, 4 general references.
Figures, 18 claims: 9 well-attested, 6 holds, 3 general references.
Religious Organization & Structure, 17 claims: 9 well-attested, 6 holds, 2 general references.
Practices, 15 claims: 12 well-attested, 1 holds, 2 general references.
Religious Events, 13 claims: 7 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 4 general references.
Spread Events, 13 claims: 4 well-attested, 8 holds, 1 general references.
Denominations, 11 claims: 10 holds, 1 general references.
Sources, 10 claims: 8 well-attested, 2 holds.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 2 general references.
Councils and Synods, 6 claims: 3 well-attested, 3 general references.
Doctrines, 5 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Rituals, 5 claims: 2 well-attested, 3 general references.
Disciplines, 4 claims: 1 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 4 claims: 2 holds, 2 general references.
Cultures, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 3 claims: 1 holds, 2 general references.
Empires & Polities, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Languages, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Mantras, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Sacred Sound, 1 claims: 1 general references.