Cattāro satipaṭṭhānā is an important practice method in early Buddhism, which is the first of the thirty-seven bodhipakkhikā dhammā. So far, the academia has done a more comprehensive study on it. In this paper, after examining the early Buddhist classics and southern and northern Abhidhamma, we find that there are great differences in the discussion of the dhamma satipaṭṭhāna objects, but there is no detailed discussion on this. In view of this, this paper specially collates the discussion on the dhamma satipaṭṭhāna objects in the original documents, such as Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta, Peṭakopadesa, Dharmaskandha, Śāriputrābhidharma, Sangitiparyaya, Pakaraṇa, etc. According to the similarities and differences of their discourses, this paper classifies, enumerates and compares their differences, explains the theoretical features of various propositions and their practical significance, and on this basis, puts forward some possible inferences and reflections. The academic contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) by comparing the different dhamma satipaṭṭhāna objects in the original literature, we can understand the differences between sutra and Abhidramma, as well as the theoretical kinship between the northern and southern Abhidarmma. (2) According to the existing phenomenon, some possible inferences contrary to the current academic conclusion are obtained. (3) It puts forward new thinking and new problems for the study of Buddhism. A comparative study on the dhamma satipaṭṭhāna objects will be helpful to the understanding of the development of Buddhism in the early stage and to the reconstruction of the cattāro satipaṭṭhāna liberation practice.
