Generally, Buddhism in China can be categorized into Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Southern Buddhism. Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism are important divisions of the religion, since they keep many important Buddhist scriptures translated from the Sanskrit editions, which are extinct in India due to demolition happened there many years ago. Namas Amitabha

Han Buddhism

Han Buddhism refers to the Buddha's religion spreading in Han area and mingling with Han culture. Buddhism formally spread into China, mainly Han area during the Han dynasty, although there are historical records indicating Buddhist missionaries came China during the Qin dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period (220 - 265), outstanding monks and Buddhist scholars launched large-scale project of sutra translation. During the Northern and Southern dynasties, since most emperors believed in it, Buddhism grew rapidly despite the demolition incidents. In the Northern Wei dynasty (386 - 534), the famous Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes were hewn, and Buddhist population amounted up to 2 million. Until the Northern Qi dynasty (550 - 557), official Buddhist registration was more than 4 million. Many famous foreign monks came China to promote and Chinese monks trekked to India to study Buddhism and bring back with them many sutras. After the Sui dynasty was established, Buddhism restored its flourish under the imperial protection and promotion. Sutra translation continued to boom. Buddhism met its golden time in the Tang dynasty. Many temples were set up and famous monks home and abroad were invited to translate sutras. The outstanding Tang monks made unprecedented achievement in Buddhism study and research. Then Buddhism began to split into different sects, some of which later spread into Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia. It was also the Tang dynasty when Buddhism was introduced into Tibet with imperial marriage. By the Song dynasty, Han Buddhism slowed its pace due to lost of imperial support. In the Yuan dynasty and the Qing dynasty, Tibetan Buddhism won imperial favor, while Han Buddhism made a comeback in Ming dynasty and revived after the reign of Emperor Kangxi.

It belongs to the Mahayana school which, also named Big Vehicle, believes that the Buddha did not just point the way and float off into his own nirvana, but continues to offer spiritual help to others seeking nirvana and Buddhist individuals should bear altruism. The division has mainly 8 sects: Zen Sect, Tantra Sect, Pureland Sect, Tiantai Sect, Sanlun Sect, Faxiang Sect, Lu Sect and Huayan Sect, of which Zen and Pureland are the most famous.

Zen, Chan in Chinese and Dhyana in Sanskrit, is the most important and influential sect of the Han Buddhism. It means meditation. This sect of Mahayana Buddhism aims to transmit the essence of Buddhism. Zen advocates the ability to achieve enlightenment is inherent within everyone but lies dormant because of ignorance. It holds that a sudden breaking through of the boundaries of common, everyday, logical thought is the right way. Although Bodhidharma was respected as the founder of Zen Buddhism, it was actually established by Huineng, successor of Bodhidharma' lineage. Later, it split into 2 sects and 7 subsects, some of which soon were introduced to Japan and Korea. Now, Zen is still very popular among Buddhism followers.

Famous Buddhist Holy Mountains:Mt. Jiuhua; Mt. Emei; Mt. Putuo; Mt. Wutai.

There are so many famous Buddhism temples in China that it is difficult to list hundreds of temples here. Interested viewer can find those temples in the cities where they are located.

Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism, also called Lamaism, formed in the 10th century, however Buddhism was introduced into Tibet in the 7th century under the reign of King Songtsen Gampo (?- 649 or 650 AD). He married Nepalese Princess and Chinese Princess who were both Buddhists and brought with them many Buddhist scriptures and statues. Then Buddhism started to mingle with Tibet culture, however during Landama's reign, Buddhism was banned and demolition began before it was restored in the 10th century. Then Tibetan Buddhism established and gradually became dominant in Tibet and spread into neighboring provinces and countries. And later Tibetan Buddhism gradually split into different sects and gained political influence.

Tibetan Buddhism is based on Madhyamika and Yogacara and belongs to the Mahayana school too. It also utilizes the symbolic ritual practices of Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana) and incorporates features of the indigenous Tibetan Bon religion in competition with it. It is much more mystical than other forms of Buddhism due to Tantric and Bon influence, strong relying on mudras (ritual postures), mantras (sacred speech), yantras (sacred art) and secret initiation rites.

Tibetan Buddhism has many sects and subsects and the following five are the most influential ones.

Nyingmapa, the Ancient Ones, began around 750 with Padmambhava. Its name means "old", since it was the oldest sect in Tibet. Because Nyingmapa lamas wear red robes and hats, it was also called Red sect. It has a loose organization and focuses on mantras. Its lamas can be married and usually lived in small groups. The sect remains much indigenous Bon religion features. Nyingmapa lamas believe that one's mind is pure and through the Buddhist cultivation to prevent disturbances outside, one can be Buddha. Another feature of this sect is it has maximum deities compared with other sects. Famous Nyingmapa monasteries include Mindroling Monastery and Dorje Drak Monastery. The former is well known for its Tibetan calligraphy.

Kahdampa means that Buddha's deeds and tuitions should be doctrines of cultivation. It is Atisha's lineage. Its tradition lays stress on the scriptures and discipline and emphasizes only a few outstanding ones can be imparted with Tantra. Kahdampa believes samsara and retribution, so it developed rapidly. Comparatively, its Yoga and Tantra remain pure. Its main monastery is Nechung Monastery, hegumen of which were once the regents of the Tibetan government when Dalai Lamas were young. Later this sect converts to Gelugpa.

Kagyupa began from great teachers, Marpa and Milarepa. Kagyupa means "to teach orally" and focus on Tantric cultivation. Since Marpa and Milarepa wore white robes, this sect is also called White sect. This sect stresses combination of practise of quasi-qigong and Buddhism satori. It also advocates asceticism and obedience from which to get cultivation. Its doctrines are unique. One important contribution of Kagyupa was the establishment of tulku (incarnation lama) system, in which an existing lama can provide clues of his incarnation lama. Kagyupa's principal shrine is Tsurphu Monastery, which is the seat of Karmapa lama.

Sakyapa arose in 1073 at Sakya Monastery after which it was named. The sect later governed Tibet for a period. Since the wall of the monastery was painted with red, white and black strips, it was called Colorful sect colloquially. Sakyapa's doctrines persuade people to do good deeds to gain good incarnation in next samsara, to discard all temporal desires to get relieved from pain.

Gelugpa, the order of Dalai lama and Panchen lama, also called Yellow sect since they wear yellow hats, began with Tsong Khapa, a great Buddhist reformer, in 1407. It absorbed Kahdampa and carried on Atisha's tradition. It stresses strict discipline and study of scriptures. Its successful reform made it dominant in Tibet after the 17th century, leaving other sects to play a minor role. It has 6 main monasteries, named Ganden Monastery, Ta'er Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Labrang Monastery, Sera Monastery and Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Southern Buddhism

Southern Buddhism refers to Pali Buddhism introduced into Yunnan province from Myanmar in the 7th century. At the beginning, there was no Buddhist temple and its scriptures were spread orally. In the 11th century, Buddhism faded due to warfare. After wars ceased, Buddhism was reintroduced into Dai majority tribes from Thailand and Myanmar. Pattra sutra written in Dai language started to appear after the language was invented in 1277. When a Myanmar princess was married to the 19th Yunnan magistrate in 1569, the King of Myanmar sent a Buddhist mission to Yunnan, bringing with them Buddhist scriptures and statues. Soon, temples were built up and Dai people and a few other minorities converted to the Pali Buddhism.

Now Southern Buddhism can be divided into four sects. Dai boys must spend a monastery life when they reach school age. They will be taught in monasteries and may drop out when they reach their adulthood. The outstanding ones may stay for further studying and become formal monks. The Southern Buddhists can be gradually ranked and the one sits on the top of the pyramid is the religious leader.