Geography of Early Buddhism

Bimala Churn Law’s *Geography of Early Buddhism* (1932) systematically collects and analyses the geographical places mentioned in early Buddhist texts—Pāli Canon, Jātakas, Asokan inscriptions and other sources. It divides India into traditional regions (“five Indies”) Majjhimadesa (Middle Country), Uttarāpatha (North), Aparānta (West), Dakkhiṇāpatha (South), Prācya (East), and also treats Ceylon, Burma and other countries where Buddhism spread. Under each region he describes boundaries, towns, rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, buddhist sites (vihāras, ārāmas, cetiyās etc.). Though some identifications are dated, the book remains a key reference for understanding the physical and cultural landscape of early Buddhism.