# Tripitaka MCP

> An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server giving AI assistants first-class access to the full Pāli Tipiṭaka — the foundational scripture of Theravāda Buddhism. ~444,000 segments at parity with SuttaCentral's bilara-data, covering all three piṭakas (Sutta, Vinaya, Abhidhamma). Free, non-commercial, offered as Dhamma Dāna.

## Connect

- [Hosted endpoint — Streamable HTTP](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/mcp): Canonical MCP transport (spec 2025-03-26). Use `mcp-remote` bridge from any MCP-capable client.
- [Hosted endpoint — Legacy SSE](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/sse): Backward-compat for older clients.
- [Connection guide](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/getting-started.md): Step-by-step setup for Claude Desktop, Cline, Cursor, etc.
- [Installer agent spec](https://github.com/dhamma-seeker/tripitaka-mcp/blob/main/llms-install.md): Machine-readable install instructions for AI installer agents.

## Capabilities

- 12 MCP tools: hybrid search (trigram + RRF semantic), exhaustive corpus survey, full-sutta fetch with outline/window pagination, segment-aligned translation comparison, citation generation, Pāli word lookup against the P. A. Payutto Thai Buddhist dictionary, inflection analyzer, and an interactive in-chat sutta viewer (MCP Apps) showing Pāli + English with optional AI translation into the user's language.
- 3 MCP resources: `tripitaka://structure`, `tripitaka://sutta/{id}`, `tripitaka://word/{w}`.
- Every tool response includes a cross-reference URL to the project's own bilingual reader (which renders SuttaCentral's bilara-data verbatim) for one-click source verification.

## Reference content

- [Topic pages index](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/): All curated reference pages, with statuses.
- [Canon overview](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/tipitaka-overview.md): Structure of the Pāli Canon — three piṭakas, five nikāyas, segment counts per book.
- [Getting started](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/getting-started.md): How to connect, choose the right tool, prompt patterns, anti-patterns, a worked example for "mindfulness of breathing."
- [Places in the canon](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/places.md): Geography of the suttas — Mahājanapada kingdoms, the Four Holy Sites, mountains and rivers, cosmological realms.
- [Themes](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/themes.md): Locus classicus + parallel suttas for 10 foundational teachings (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Dependent Origination, Five Aggregates, Satipaṭṭhāna, Ānāpānassati, Mettā, Hindrances, Awakening Factors, Three Marks).
- [People](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/people.md): ~30 major figures organized by role — Buddha, chief monastic disciples, foremost bhikkhunīs, lay supporters, kings, family, notable converts, opponents.
- [Timeline](https://mcp.tripitaka-mcp.com/topics/timeline.md): Phase-based chronology of the Buddha's 45-year mission — renunciation, awakening, early Sangha formation, mid-career establishment, Devadatta crisis, and the final months from DN 16. Anchored on canonical events; commentarial chronology flagged separately.

## Source

- [GitHub repository](https://github.com/dhamma-seeker/tripitaka-mcp): Source code, MIT-licensed.
- [SuttaCentral bilara-data](https://github.com/suttacentral/bilara-data): Upstream Pāli + English data, CC0.
- [Wat Nyanavesakavan / P. A. Payutto Buddhist Dictionary](https://www.watnyanaves.net): Thai dictionary source — Dhamma Dāna, non-commercial use only.
- [NOTICE.md](https://github.com/dhamma-seeker/tripitaka-mcp/blob/main/NOTICE.md): Data licenses — please read before redistributing.

## Optional

- [Research workflow skill](https://github.com/dhamma-seeker/tripitaka-mcp/blob/main/skills/tipitaka-research.md): Multi-step research pattern (clarify → verify coverage → search → drill → cite) for AI clients doing scriptural research.
- [Project landing page](https://tripitaka-mcp.com/): Marketing overview, coverage stats, example queries.