Āgama ［阿含］ (, Pali;  Agon): “Teachings handed down by tradition.” In Buddhism, Āgama was originally a generic term for Shakyamuni’s teachings. After the rise of Mahayana, however, it came exclusively to mean the Hinayana teachings and scriptures. The only surviving Āgama scriptures are a Pali version in five sections and a Chinese version in four sections (called the four Āgama sutras). The Pali Āgamas constitute the sutra section of the Pali canon and were set down in writing around the first century b.c.e. Theravāda Buddhism has handed them down in their entirety. See also Āgama sutras; five Āgamas; four Āgama sutras.