During which Buddhist council did the formal split between Mahayana and Hinayana occur?

Correct Answer: Fourth

Subject: history

First
Second
Third
Fourth

Explanation: • 4th Council (Kundalvana, Kashmir, ~100 AD, under Kanishka) — formal Mahayana-Hinayana split • Compiled Sarvastivada commentaries into the Mahavibhasa (Great Commentary) in Sanskrit • Seeds of split were earlier: 2nd Council (383 BC) = Sthaviravada vs Mahasanghika; 3rd Council further divided into 18 schools • Mahayana today: East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam), Tibet • Theravada (Hinayana) today: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos • 'Hinayana' is considered derogatory by Theravada Buddhists — 'Theravada' is preferred