Conception and intrauterine life in the Pāli Canon

Abstract

This article is part of a major research effort to investigate childhood in Theravāda Buddhism. Because the Buddhist tradition understands birth to be the emergence of the first consciousness in the mother's womb, birth takes place at the time of conception. Thus, age is calculated from the moment of conception. Research on childhood cannot neglect intrauterine life. This article analyzes various canonical passages that refer to conception and life in the womb. The article will look at the "three prerequisites" for conception, analyze various stories that do not adhere to these set criteria and clarify various Pāli terms with reference to embryology. This study permits us to map out four different usages of the imagery associated with conception and intrauterine life.