Vinaya Pitaka - Surviving Versions

Surviving Versions

Six versions survive complete, of which three are still in use.

  • The Pali version of the Theravada, included in the Pali Canon
    • Suttavibhanga (-vibhaṅga): commentary on the Patimokkha, with much of its text embedded
      • Mahavibhanga (mahā-) dealing with monks
      • Bhikkhunivibhanga (bhikkhunī-) dealing with nuns
    • Khandhaka: 22 chapters on various topics
    • Parivara: analyses the rules from various points of view
  • 'Dul-ba, Tibetan translation of the Mulasarvastivada version; this is the version used in the Tibetan tradition
    • Vinayavastu: 16 skandhakas (khandhakas) and the start of the 17th
    • Pratimokshasutra of monks
    • Vinayavibhanga of monks
    • Pratimokshasutra of nuns
    • Vinayavibhanga of nuns
    • Vinayakshudrakavastu: rest of the 17th skandhaka and others
    • Vinayottaragrantha: appendices, including Upaliparipriccha, which corresponds to a chapter of the Parivara
  • Ssŭ-fen lü 四分律 (Taisho catalogue number 1428), Chinese translation of the Dharmaguptaka version; this is the version used in the Chinese tradition and its derivatives in Korea, Vietnam and the Ritsu school in Japan (most Buddhist clergy in Japan do not follow the Vinaya, but rather follow the Mahayana Precepts, a result of the successful Tendai school campaign).
    • Bhikshuvibhanga dealing with monks
    • Bhikshunivibhanga dealing with nuns.
    • Skandhaka
    • Samyuktavarga
    • Vinayaikottara, corresponding to a chapter of the Parivara
  • Shih-sung lü (T1435), translation of Sarvastivada version
    • Bhikshuvibhanga
    • Skandhaka
    • Bhikshunivibhanga
    • Ekottaradharma, similar to Vinayaikottara
    • Upaliparipriccha
    • Ubhayatovinaya
    • Samyukta
    • Parajikadharma
    • Sanghavasesha
    • Kusaladhyaya
  • Wu-fen lü (T1421), translation of Mahisasaka version
    • Bhikshuvibhanga
    • Bhikshunivibhanga
    • Skandhaka
  • Mo-ho-seng-ch'i lü 摩訶僧祇律 (T1425), translation of Mahasanghika version (the nuns' rules have been translated by the late Professor Hirakawa in English as Monastic Discipline for the Buddhist Nuns, Patna, 1982)
    • Bhikshuvibhanga
    • Bhikshunivibhanga
    • Skandhaka

In addition, portions of various versions survive in various languages.

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