Pali Canon/Timelines

BC

 * c. 544: according to tradition, compilation of the Canon, with comparatively small amounts of material added later
 * 4th century: according to Professor Warder, average date of the Canon
 * last century: according to most authorities, Canon written down from oral tradition

AD

 * 5th century: Buddhaghosa, most important commentator on the Canon; according to Professor Samuel, the Canon itself largely derives from his and his colleagues' work
 * 8th or 9th century: oldest known manuscript fragment of the Canon
 * 1881: Pali Text Society founded in England by T. W. Rhys Davids to print the Canon and other texts
 * 1900: first complete printed edition of the Canon appears in Burma in 38 volumes
 * 1988: digitization of the Canon completed in Thailand