It is the popular religion of China; the state religion of Thibet, and of the Birman Empire; it is the religion of Japan, Siam, Anam, Assam, Nepaul, Ceylon, in short, of nearly the whole of Eastern Asia.
Concerning this vast religion we have had, until recently, very few means of information.

But, during the last quarter of a century, so many sources have been opened, that at present we can easily study it in its original features and its subsequent development.

The sacred books of this religion have been preserved independently, in Ceylon, Nepaul, China, and Thibet.
Mr.G.Turnour, Mr.Georgely, and Mr.R.Spence Hardy are our chief authorities in regard to the Pitikas, or the Scriptures in the Pali language, preserved in Ceylon.

Mr.Hodgson has collected and studied the Sanskrit Scriptures, found in Nepaul.

In 1825 he transmitted to the Asiatic Society in Bengal sixty works in Sanskrit, and two hundred and fifty in the language of Thibet.