Kangyur

Tibetan Buddhist canon

• Kangyur or "Translated Words" consists of works in about 108 volumes supposed to have been spoken by the Buddha himself. All texts presumably once had a Sanskrit original, although in many cases the Tibetan text was translated from Chinese or some other language.
• Tengyur or "Translated Treatises" contains commentaries, treatises and abhidharma works, in all, around 3,626 texts in 224 volumes.

Contents of the Kangyur

1. Vinaya — all derived from the Sanskrit Mūlasarvastivāda Vinaya.
2. # Vinayavastu Seventeen chapters detailing different aspects of monastic conduct.
3. # Vinayavibhaṅga The codified monastic rules and their commentaries for monks and nuns.
4. # Vinayakṣudrakavastu A set of miscellaneous topics on matters not covered in the Vinayavastu.
5. # Vinayottaragrantha ' Ten originally independent texts that serve to further explain the monastic code.
6. Sūtras
7. # The Perfection of Wisdom Contains various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras from long to short.
8. ## The Six Mothers
9. ### Śatasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā
10. ### Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā
11. ### Aṣṭādaśasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā
12. ### Daśasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā
13. ### Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā
14. ### Prajñāpāramitā Ratnaguṇa Sañcaya Gāthā
15. ## The Eleven Children
16. ### The Questions of Suvikrāntavikrāmin
17. ### Pañcaśatikā Prajñāpāramitā
18. ### The Vajracchedikā
19. ### Prajñāpāramitānaya Śatapañcaśatikā
20. ### Bhagavatī­ Prajñāpāramitā Pañcāśatikā
21. ### Kauśika Prajñā­pāramitā
22. ### Pañcaviṃśatikā Prajñāpāramitā Mukha
23. ### Bhagavatī­ Prajñā­pāramitā­ Hṛdaya
24. ### Svalpākṣara Prajñāpāramitā
25. ### Ekākṣarī Mātā Prajñāpāramitā
26. ### Saptaśatikā Prajñāpāramitā
27. ## Six Short Perfection of Wisdom Texts
28. # The Thirteen Late-translated sūtras These are Tibetan translations of Pāḷi suttas, translated at Tharpaling the 14th century in collaboration between a Tibetan and Sinhala monk. They are the last sūtras to enter into the Kangyur, and so are called the "Late-translated" sūtras. One of these texts, the Vimuttimagga, which is not actually sūtra, is included for unknown reasons in the General Sūtra section. The longest text of this collection is the Jātakanidāna, which is also not considered a sutta in the Pāḷi tradition. The Āṭānāṭiya Sūtra and Mahāsamaya Sūtra are equivalent to two Sanskrit sūtras translated into Tibetan for the Tantra section as "Mahāsūtras" for protection.
29. # The Buddhāvataṃsaka. Contains the Tibetan recension of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra in 45 chapters translated from Chinese.
30. # The Ratnakūṭa collection. Contains the Tibetan recensions of the various sūtras considered to be part of the Mahāratnakūṭa collection, which also circulated as stand-alone sūtras. Major sūtras in this collection include:
31. #* The Tathāgatācintya-guhya-nirdeśa
32. #* The Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha
33. #* The Akṣobhyavyūha
34. #* The Bodhisattvapiṭaka
35. #* The Akṣayamatiparipṛcchā
36. #* The Saptaśatikā Prajñāpāramitā
37. #* The Ratnacūḍaparipṛcchā
38. #* The Śrīmāladevī Siṃhanāda
39. # The General Sūtra section. Contains all other sūtras translated from Sanskrit and Chinese.
40. ## Mahāyāna Sūtras Contains most of the major Mahāyāna sūtras not in the other collections, including among the most well-known:
41. ##* Bhadrakalpika
42. ##* Lalitavistara
43. ##* Saṅghāṭasūtra
44. ##* Sandhinirmocana
45. ##* Laṅkāvatāra & 108 )
46. ##* Ghanavyūhasūtra
47. ##* Karuṇāpuṇḍarīka
48. ##* Saddharmapuṇḍarīka
49. ##* Shorter Sukhāvatīvyūha
50. ##* Kāraṇḍavyūha
51. ##* Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra & 120 )
52. ##* Samādhirāja
53. ##* Śūraṅgamasamādhisūtra
54. ##* Sūtras of the Mahāsaṃnipāta Collection
55. ##** Ratnaketu Dhāraṇī
56. ##** Tathāgatamahākaruṇānirdeśa
57. ##** Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā
58. ##** Sāgaramatiparipṛcchā
59. ##** Mahāyānopadeśasūtra / Ratnadārikāparipṛcchā
60. ##** Akṣayamatinirdeśa
61. ##** Tathāgataśrīsamayasūtra / Sūryaguhya?
62. ##** Sūryagarbha
63. ##* Vimalakīrtinirdeśa
64. ##* Pañcapāramitānirdeśa = the final five assemblies in Xuanzang's Mahāprajñāpāramitā
65. ##* Śālistamba
66. ##* Aṅgulimālīyasūtra
67. ##* Ajāta­śatrukaukṛtyavinodana
68. ##* Mahāmegha
69. ##* Daśacakrakṣitigarbhasūtra
70. ##* Tathāgatagarbhasūtra
71. ##* Ākāśagarbhasūtra
72. ##* Upāyakauśalyasūtra
73. ## Śrāvakayāna Sūtras This includes various longer sūtras considered to not belong to the Mahāyāna, though these attributions are often disputed. Famous texts include:
74. ##* Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna
75. ##* The Mahāsūtras which are derived from the Āgamas of the Mūlasarvāstivāda
76. ##* Arthaviniścaya
77. ##* Dharmacakrasūtra
78. ##* Karmaśataka – an avadāna collection
79. ##* Damamūka – an avadāna collection
80. ##* Pūrṇapramukhāvadānaśataka – popularly known as just the Avadānaśataka, an avadāna collection
81. ##* Brahmajālasūtra
82. ##* Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna
83. ##* Bodhimaṇḍasyālaṃkāralakṣadhāraṇī – popularly known as the Sūtra of the Forty-Two Sections
84. Tantra
85. # Tantra Collection Translations of tantras from the "later spread" as practised by the New Schools.
86. ## Anuttarayoga / Yoganiruttaratantra These are the highest class of tantras, considered "inner tantras," often divided into "non-dual," "mother," and "father" tantras, with the latter two divided into six families of principal deities. Their goal is to realise the absolute non-duality of the meditator and the deity, allowing one to realise their innate wisdom. Historically, these were the last tantras to have developed starting from the 8th century.
87. ### Non-dual Tantras
88. ###* Mañjuśrīnāmasaṅgīti
89. ###* Extracts from the Kālacakra Root Tantra
90. ###* Abbreviated Kālacakra Tantra
91. ###* Extracts from the Kālacakra Root Tantra on Empowerment
92. ### 76 Mother Tantras
93. #### The Section where the six families are equal – The Two Ḍākinījālaśaṃvara Tantras
94. #### Heruka Family '
95. ##### Abbreviated Śaṃvara Tantra
96. #####* Explanatory tantras on the Śaṃvara Tantra
97. #####* Explanatory tantras called Rali Tantras
98. #####* Mahākāla Tantra
99. ##### Two part Hevajra Root Tantra
100. #####* Explanatory tantras on the Hevajra Tantra
101. #####* Hevajra Fruition Tantra
102. ##### Buddhakapāla Tantra
103. ##### Mahāmāya Tantra
104. ##### Vajrārali Tantra
105. #### Vairocana Family
106. ##### The Vairocana root tantra, the Catuḥpīṭhatantra
107. #####* Explanatory tantras on the Vairocana Root Tantra
108. ##### Caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa Tantra
109. ##### Acala tantras
110. #### Vajrasūrya Family – the Vajrāmṛta Tantra
111. #### Padma Lord Family
112. ##### Kulalokanāthapañcadaśaka Tantra
113. ##### Kurukullā Tantra
114. #### Aśvottama Family
115. ##### Praise of Tārā in Twenty-One Homages
116. ##### Vajrakīlaya Root Tantra fragment
117. ##### Tantra of Mahākāla
118. ##### Tārāyoginī tantras
119. #### Vajradhara Family – the Khasama Tantra
120. ### 37 Father Tantras Tōh. 442–478)
121. #### Akṣobhya Family
122. ##### Guhyasamāja Tantra
123. #####* Explanatory tantras for the Guhyasamāja
124. #####* Tārāyoginī tantras are considered to actually belong to the Mother Tantra Aśvottama Family.
125. ##### Vajrapāṇi Tantras
126. #### Vairocana Family
127. ####* Māyājāla Tantra
128. ####* Yamāri / Yamāntaka and Vajrabhairava tantras.
129. #### Ratnasambhava Family
130. #### Amitābha Family – Ekajaṭa Tantra
131. #### Amoghasiddhi Family
132. #### Vajradhara Family
133. ##### Candraguhyatilaka Tantra
134. ## Yoga Tantra The highest of the "outer tantras." These meditational tantras emphasise skilful means and wisdom, but still have "external" practices based on maṇḍalas with all five Buddha families present, presided over by Mahāvairocana. They involve visualisation of oneself as the deity, with the goal of realising one's inseparability from the deity. These tantras date mostly to the 7th century, and were more openly transmitted than the higher tantras.
135. ### 8 Tantras of Skilful Means
136. ###* Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha
137. ###** Explanations of the Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha:
138. ###**# Vajraśekhara
139. ###**# Sarvarahasya
140. ###**# Trailokyavijaya
141. ###* Sarvadurgatipari­śodhana
142. ###** Two alternate translations thereof
143. ###* Supratiṣṭha Tantra
144. ### 7 Tantras of Wisdom These are a tantric sub-corpus of the Prajñāpāramitā.
145. ###* Śrī­paramādya in two sections
146. ###* Prajñāpāramitānayaśatapañcaśatikā
147. ###* Vajramaṇḍālaṁkāra Tantra
148. ###* Pañcaviṃśatikā­ Prajñā­pāramitā­ Mukha
149. ###* Guhyālaṃkāravyūha Tantra
150. ###* Guhyamaṇitilaka Sūtra
151. ### In other systems, the Mañjuśrīnāmasaṅgīti and Māyājāla Tantra are considered Yoga Tantra.
152. ## Caryā Tantra These "practice" class tantras aim at liberation through a combination of ritual and meditation. They have three familes.
153. ### Tathāgata Family '
154. #### Vairocanābhisambodhi
155. #### Acalamahākrodharāja Kalpa
156. ### Padma Family
157. ### Vajra Family – Six short Vajrapāṇi tantras
158. ## Kriyā Tantra These 308 "action" tantras emphasise outer ritual for the attainment of siddhi or powers, the subduing of obstacles, and attainment of fortune. One worships the deity out of subservience in these practices. They have seven groups.
159. ### Tathāgata Family
160. #### Texts featuring the principal deity of the family including:
161. ####* Medicine Buddha tantras
162. ####* Tantras for other buddhas
163. ####* Dependent Origination and its mantra
164. ####* Prajñāpāramitā Heart sūtras
165. ####* 108 Names of the Buddha
166. ####* Śākyamuni Dhāraṇī
167. ####* Vairocana Dhāraṇī
168. #### 10 texts on the "Turner of the Wheel" of the family, Mañjuśrī, including the Mañjuśrīyamūlakalpa.
169. #### 37 texts on the "Mother" of the Family
170. ####* Prajñāpāramitā Devī
171. ####* Suvarṇaprabhā
172. ####* Pañcarakṣā Devīs
173. ####* Mārīcī
174. ####* Jayavatī
175. ####* Sūtra heart incantations
176. #### 13 Texts on the Uṣṇīṣas of the Tathāgata
177. ####* Uṣṇīṣasitātapatrā
178. ####* Uṣṇīṣavijayā
179. ####* Stūpas
180. #### 10 Texts on Wrathful Deities
181. #### 20 Texts on Male and Female Messenger Goddesses – focuses on overcoming epidemics and diseases. Includes the Vaiśālipraveśa Mahāsūtra
182. #### 19 Texts on Bodhisattvas in the Tathāgata Family – includes texs enumerating their names as well as on using their qualities to develop on the path.
183. #### 21 Texs on the Devas of Pure Places – includes texts on various wealth and protector deities, as well as some Mahāsūtras.
184. ### Padma Family
185. #### 6 texts featuring the principle deity of the family
186. ####* Works on the form of Amitāyus, Aparimitāyus, or Aparimitāyurjñāna
187. ####* Works on the form of Amitābha
188. #### 43 texts on the "Turner of the Wheel" of the family, Avalokiteśvara
189. #### 9 texts on the "Mother" of the Family, Tāra
190. #### 4 texts on the wrathful male and female deities of the family
191. ####* Hayagrīva
192. ####* Pratyaṅgirā
193. ####* Parṇaśabarī
194. #### 6 texts on the male and female attendant deities of the family
195. ####* Pratyaṅgirā
196. ####* Sarasvatī
197. ####* Mahādevī
198. ### Vajra Family
199. #### 1 text on the principal deity, Akṣobhya.
200. #### 7 texts on the lords of the family, all forms of Vajrapāṇi
201. #### 1 text on the "Mother" of the family, Vajrājitānalapramohanī
202. #### 3 texts on the wrathful male and female deities of the family
203. #### 8 texts on the male and female messenger and attendant deities of the family
204. ### Wealth-god Family
205. ###* 8 texts on wealth gods like Maṇibhadra and Jambhala.
206. ### Increase Family – Mekhalā Dhāraṇī
207. ### Worldly Family – Mahāśvāsa Dhāraṇī
208. ### Miscellaneous Brief Dhāraṇīs
209. ###* For circumambulating
210. ###* For purifying offerings
211. ###* For prostrations
212. ###* For finding clothes
213. ###* For pleasing others
214. ###* For purifying lower realms
215. ###* For treating ailments
216. ###* For becoming attractive
217. ###* For success
218. ###* For escaping bondage
219. ###* For intimidating demons
220. ## Praṇidhāna – dedication prayers and expressions of auspiciousness, primarily various maṅgala gāthās.
221. # Old Tantras Translations of tantras from the "early spread" as practised by the Old School.
222. ## Atiyoga – the Bodhicittakulayarāja
223. ## Anuyoga
224. ### Samājasarvavidyāsūtra
225. ### Jñānāścaryadyuticakra
226. ### Vajrakulatantrapiṇḍārthavidyāyogasiddha
227. ## Mahāyoga
228. ### Tantras – the Māyājāla Corpus
229. #### 22 Chapter Guhyagarbha
230. #### Vajrasattvamāyājālaguhyasarvādarśa
231. #### 80 Chapter Guhyagarbha
232. #### Explanatory texts for the Guhyagarbha and emphasising empowerment
233. ### Means for Attainment – texts on meditational deities:
234. #### On Mañjuśrī-Yamāntaka – Body
235. #### On Hayagrīva-Aśvottama – Speech
236. #### On Śrīheruka – Mind
237. #### On Vajrāmṛta – Qualities
238. #### On Vajrakīla – Activities
239. #### Three mundane tantras
240. # Kālacakra Tantra Commentary
241. Dhāraṇī
242. # The Dhāraṇīsaṅgraha Collection A collection of 250 dhāraṇīs.
243. # Praṇidhāna A collection of aspiration and dedication prayers like the famous Bhadracaryāpraṇidhāna. Most of these are found elsewhere in the Kangyur as duplicates.
244. Kangyur Catalog ' The descriptive catalogue of the Derge Kangyur, together with an explanation of the collection's history and translation, composed by the Situ Panchen Chokyi Jungne.