The Chinese Buddhists are not more certain.

Lassen, therefore, with most of the scholars, accepts as authentic the period upon which all the authorities of the South, especially of Ceylon, agree, which is B.C.543.

Lately Westergaard has written a monograph on the subject, in which, by a labored argument, he places the date about two hundred years later.

Whether he will convince his brother _savans_ remains to be seen.
Immediately after the death of Sakya-muni a general council of his most eminent disciples was called, to fix the doctrine and discipline of the church.

The legend runs that three of the disciples were selected to recite from memory what the sage had taught.