The　third-order　shear　deformation　plate　theory　(TPT)　is　employed　to　solve　the　axisymmetric　bending　and　buckling　problems　of　functionally　graded　circular　plates.　Relationships　between　the　TPT　solutions　of　axisymmetric　bending　and　buckling　of　functionally　graded　circular　plates　and　those　of　isotropic　circular　plates　based　on　the　classical　plate　theory　(CPT)　are　presented,　from　which　one　can　easily　obtain　the　TPT　solutions　for　the　axisymmetric　bending　and　buckling　of　functionally　graded　plates.　It　is　assumed　in　analysis　that　the　mechanical　properties　of　the　functionally　graded　plates　vary　continuously　through　the　thickness　of　the　plate　and　obey　a　power　law　distribution　of　the　volume　fraction　of　the　constituents.　Effects　of　material　gradient　property　and　shear　deformation　on　the　bending　and　buckling　of　functionally　graded　plates　are　discussed　in　the　frameworks　of　the　first-order　plate　theory　(FPT)　and　third-order　plate　theories.　Also,　comparisons　of　the　TPT　solutions　to　the　FPT　and　CPT　solutions　are　presented,　which　show　that　the　first-order　shear　deformation　plate　theory　is　enough　to　consider　the　effect　of　shear　deformation　on　the　axisymmetric　bending　and　buckling　of　functionally　graded　circular　plate,　a　much　higher　order　and　more　complex　plate　theory　(say　TPT)　is　not　necessary　for　such　a　kind　of　problem.　(C)　2003　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.