Dīpavamsa

The oldest extant Pāli Chronicle of Ceylon. Like the Mahāvamsa, it was based on the Atthakathā handed down in the Mahāvihāra of Ceylon. It gives the impression not of an evenly worked out whole, but rather of a stringing together of fragments, a composition of whole lines, sometimes whole stanzas, borrowed from the Atthakathā. It is generally agreed that the Dīpavamsa assumed its present form about the fourth century A.C. It is stated (Cv.xxxviii.59) that Dhātusena made endowments for the regular recital of the Dīpavamsa.

The work was edited and published by Oldenberg in 1879. For details see Geiger: Dīpavamsa and Mahāvamsa.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

Dīpavaṃsa

Literally ‘Island Chronicle’, a historiographic work in Pāli, probably compiled from several loosely edited sources at the beginning of the 4th century ce, and narrating the Buddhist history of Sri Lanka from its beginnings to the reign of King Mahāsena (334-61). It is the oldest chronicle of the island. Its historical narrative is continued in the Cūlavaṃsa and is paralleled by the Mahāvaṃsa.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)