History of Tibetan Buddhism facts for kids
Buddhists, mostly from India, first brought their practices to Tibet between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. During a time called the Era of Fragmentation (9th–10th centuries), Buddhism became less popular in Tibet. But it grew strong again in the 11th century.
When the Mongols invaded Tibet (starting in 1240) and set up the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) in China, Tibetan Buddhism spread to Mongolia and China. From the 14th to the 20th centuries, Chinese rulers like the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) supported Tibetan Buddhism.
The Gelug school, started by Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), became very powerful. This happened under the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682). He asked the Mongols for help during a civil war in Tibet (1639–1642). The Mongols gave him political power, and the Gelug school remained dominant until the 20th century. In the 19th century, the Rimé movement tried to balance this power. It worked to save the teachings of other schools like the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya.
In the early 1900s, Tibet became mostly independent from the Qing Empire. But this independence ended when China invaded in 1950. This led to many Tibetans leaving their homeland. Today, Tibetan Buddhism is still practiced in the Tibetan Plateau and nearby areas. It has also become very popular in Western countries.
Early History of Tibetan Buddhism
First Buddhist Teachings (6th-9th Centuries)
According to old stories, a basket of Buddhist scriptures arrived in Tibet from India during the rule of King Thothori Nyantsen in the 6th century.
King Songtsän Gampo's Role (7th Century)
The first Buddhist texts from Nepal and India were translated into Tibetan during the reign of King Songtsän Gampo (618–649). He is often given credit for bringing Buddhism to Tibet. His wife, Princess Bhrikuti from Nepal, was a Buddhist. Another wife, Princess Wencheng from China, also brought a statue of Buddha to Tibet.
Tibetan writings show that some of Songtsän Gampo's later rulers were very strong Buddhists. Chinese Buddhists also worked to spread their faith in Tibet. But they did not have as much support from the rulers as Indian Buddhists did.
By the late 700s, King Songtsän Gampo was seen as an important Buddhist figure. Princess Bhrikuti brought many holy images and skilled artists from Nepal. These artists helped build the Red Palace in Lhasa, which later became the famous Potala Palace. She also helped build the Tub-wang and other statues in Samye.
Songtsän Gampo and Bhrikuti built a large temple called the Tsulag Khang. It is now known as the Jokhang in Lhasa and is considered the most sacred temple in Tibet. Bhrikuti is often shown as Green Tara in Tibetan art. Both Bhrikuti and Wencheng are said to have worked together to set up temples and Buddhism in Tibet.
Indian and Nepalese Teachers (8th Century)
In the 8th century, Buddhism truly took root in Tibet. King Trisong Detsen (755–797) made it the official religion of the state.
King Trisong Detsen invited Indian Buddhist scholars to Tibet. Tibetan Buddhists today trace their earliest spiritual roots to these Indian masters. These include Padmasambhāva (8th century) and Śāntarakṣita (725–788). They founded the Nyingma school, which means "The Ancient Ones." This is the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Padmasambhāva is believed to have written many important scriptures. Some of these he hid for future spiritual leaders to find. These "Terma" or "revealed texts" are very special to the Nyingma school.
Around this time, scholars from the Pala Empire in India also influenced Tibet. They combined two types of Buddhism, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna. This mix became a key part of all Tibetan Buddhism.
Chinese Influences (8th Century)
The Chinese princess Jincheng Gongzhu (who died in 739) was a strong Buddhist. She was sent to Tibet in 710 and married a Tibetan ruler. Buddhist monks from Khotan, who were escaping persecution, found safety with her around 737.
Later, the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen (742–797) invited a Chinese Chan master named Moheyan to teach in Tibet. According to Tibetan stories, Moheyan lost a debate in Lhasa (793) against the Indian master Kamalaśīla. The king then decided that Kamalaśīla's ideas should be the basis for Tibetan Buddhism. However, some Chinese writings say Moheyan won.
Buddhism Grows in Tibet (9th Century)
From the start, Buddhism faced opposition from the local Bön religion. The Bön religion had support from the rich families. But Buddhism grew strong with the king's help. It reached its peak under King Rälpachän (ruled 817–836). Around 825, the way Buddhist texts were translated was made standard. This helped to create very accurate translations.
A Time of Change (9th-12th Centuries)
Era of Fragmentation (9th–10th Centuries)
Buddhism faced a setback under King Langdarma (ruled 836–842). After his death, Tibet entered a period called the Era of Fragmentation. This was a time in the 9th and 10th centuries when the strong central government of the earlier Tibetan Empire fell apart. During this time, there were many rebellions against the old empire. Local warlords also gained power. A civil war followed the death of King Langdarma. This ended the central Tibetan government until much later.
Tibetan Renaissance (10th–12th Centuries)
The late 10th and 11th centuries saw Buddhism become strong again in Tibet. This period also saw the first discoveries of "hidden treasures" or terma. These were secret Buddhist texts.
In the west of Tibet, a translator named Rinchen Zangpo (958–1055) was very active. He founded temples and monasteries. Important scholars and teachers were once again invited from India.
In 1042, Atiśa (982–1054 CE) arrived in Tibet. He was a famous Buddhist teacher from India. He later moved to central Tibet. His main student, Dromtonpa, started the Kadampa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Many of today's "New Translation" schools grew from this influence.
The Sakya school, meaning "Grey Earth," was founded by Khön Könchok Gyelpo (1034–1102). This school is known for its scholarly traditions. A famous teacher from this school was Sakya Pandita (1182–1251 CE).
Other important Indian teachers were Tilopa (988–1069) and his student Naropa (died around 1040 CE). The Kagyu school, meaning "Lineage of the Word," is an oral tradition. It focuses a lot on the experience of meditation. Its most famous teacher was Milarepa, a mystic from the 11th century.
Mongol Influence (13th–14th Centuries)
Buddhism Spreads to Mongolia (11th–13th Centuries)
Tibetan Buddhism began to strongly influence people in Inner Asia, especially the Mongols, from the 11th century CE. This type of Buddhism may have first reached the Mongols through the Tangut state of Western Xia (1038–1227). Buddhists started working for the Mongol Empire in the early 1200s. Buddhist monasteries in Karakorum did not have to pay taxes. However, Buddhism was not yet an official religion for the Mongols.
Mongol Conquest of Tibet (13th Century)
The Mongols invaded Tibet in 1240. They pulled their soldiers out in 1241 but returned in 1244. At that time, Köten demanded that the abbot of Sakya, Sakya Pandita, become his personal religious advisor. If he refused, there would be a larger invasion. Sakya Paṇḍita took almost three years to obey. He met Prince Köten in 1247. The Mongols had already taken over Amdo and Kham in the east. In 1249, they appointed Sakya Paṇḍita as their representative for Central Tibet.
Tibet became part of the Mongol Empire. It kept some control over religious and local political matters. But the Mongols managed the overall structure and administration. They would sometimes use military force to keep control.
Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
Tibetan Buddhism became the main religion of the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). This dynasty was founded by Kublai Khan and also ruled China.
All types of Buddhism, including Chinese, Tibetan, and Indian, thrived. But Tibetan Buddhism was eventually favored by the emperor Möngke (1209–1259). He appointed Namo from Kashmir as the head of all Buddhist monks. A special government office was set up in Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing) to oversee Buddhist monks across the empire. The Sakya teachers were very active in the Yuan court and had special power. During this time, Tibetan Buddhism was practiced not only in Beijing and Tibet but also throughout China.
Decline of Western Mongol Empires (13th–14th Centuries)
In the early days, the rulers of the Mongol khanates in the west, like the Golden Horde and the Ilkhanate, also adopted Tibetan Buddhism. However, their rulers later converted to Islam. The Yuan dynasty in China and Mongolia was the only part of the Mongol Empire that did not become Muslim. Instead, they continued to favor Tibetan Buddhism until their rule ended.
Tibetan Independence and New Schools (14th–18th Centuries)
With the decline of the Yuan dynasty, Central Tibet was ruled by different families from the 14th to the 17th century. Tibet was mostly independent for nearly 400 years starting in the mid-14th century.
Family Rule and Gelugpa School (14th–17th Centuries)
Jangchub Gyaltsän (1302–1364) became the most powerful political leader in the mid-14th century. He established the Phagmodrupa dynasty in 1354. He ruled central Tibet until his death in 1364. He kept the Mongol systems in place, but they had no real power. The Phagmodru family held power until 1434.
The rule of Jangchub Gyaltsän and his followers brought a new sense of Tibetan culture. They looked back to the time of the ancient Tibetan Kingdom for inspiration. This peaceful time helped art and literature to grow. During this period, a reformer named Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) founded the Gelug sect. This new school would greatly influence Tibet's history.
Conflicts within the Phagmodrupa dynasty and strong local loyalties led to many internal wars. The Rinpungpa family, based in Tsang (West Central Tibet), took control of politics after 1435.
In 1565, the Rinpungpa family was overthrown by the Tsangpa dynasty. This family expanded its power in Tibet and favored the Karma Kagyu sect. They played a key role in the events that led to the Dalai Lamas gaining power in the 1640s.
Foreign Support for Buddhism
China
After overthrowing Mongol rule, the Chinese Ming dynasty supported Tibetan Buddhism. They kept friendly relations with some Buddhist leaders. They also gave titles to local Tibetan leaders.
Mongolia
In the early period of the Northern Yuan dynasty (1368 - c. 1636), shamanism was again the main religion in Mongolia. But in the last sixty years before the death of the last khan, Tibetan Buddhism spread widely in Mongolian society. In 1578, Sonam Gyatso was invited to Mongolia. He converted Altan Khan and his tribe to Buddhism. Altan Khan gave him the title "Dalai," which means "ocean" in Mongolian. This is how the title Dalai Lama began.
Within 50 years, almost all Mongols became Buddhists. This included tens of thousands of monks. Most of them followed the Gelug school and were loyal to the Dalai Lama. Since then, Tibetan Buddhism has been very important among the Mongols.
Tibetan Buddhism was the most important religion for the Mongols under Qing rule (1635–1912). It was also the official religion of several Mongol khanates. The Manchu Qing dynasty (1644–1912) also supported Tibetan Buddhism. This was because both Mongols and Tibetans believed in it.
Ganden Phodrang Government (17th–18th Centuries)
The Ganden Phodrang was the Tibetan government set up by the 5th Dalai Lama. He received help from Güshi Khan of the Khoshut Mongols in 1642. After the civil war in the 17th century and the Mongol help, the Gelugpa school became dominant. Successive Dalai Lamas then ruled Tibet from the mid-17th to mid-20th centuries.
How the Dalai Lama Lineage Began
The rise of the Dalai Lamas was closely linked to the military power of Mongol clans. Altan Khan, the king of the Tümed Mongols, first invited Sonam Gyatso (who later became the third Dalai Lama) to Mongolia in 1569 and again in 1578. Gyatso accepted the second invitation. They met and the Dalai Lama taught a large crowd.
Sonam Gyatso announced that he was a reincarnation of the Tibetan Sakya monk Drogön Chögyal Phagpa. He said Altan Khan was a reincarnation of Kublai Khan. They had come together again to spread Buddhism. This helped make Buddhist ideas important for Mongol leaders to prove their power. Also, Yonten Gyatso, the fourth Dalai Lama, was Altan Khan's grandson.
Gelugpa School Rises to Power (17th–18th Centuries)
Sonam Choephel (1595–1657 CE) was the first regent for the fifth Dalai Lama. He was the main person who helped the Gelug school gain power. Sonam Choephel asked for help from Güshi Khan, a powerful Mongol military leader. This was to end years of clan wars in Tibet and the civil war of 1639–1642. Güshi Khan conquered Kham in 1640. He brought the Sakyas and the lords of Kham and Amdo under his control.
His victory over Karma Tenkyong in 1642 completed the military unification of Tibet. This also established the Khoshut Khanate. By formally recognizing the Fifth Dalai Lama's authority in 1642, Güshi Khan made Gyatso the ruler of all Tibet.
Qing Rule (18th–20th Centuries)
Qing Dynasty Takes Control
The Qing dynasty (1644–1912) took control over Tibet after a Chinese force defeated the Dzungars in 1720. This rule lasted until the Qing dynasty fell in 1912. The Qing emperors appointed officials called Ambans to Tibet. These officials commanded over 2,000 troops in Lhasa. They reported to a Qing government agency that oversaw the region. The Manchu Qing dynasty rulers supported Tibetan Buddhism, especially the Gelug sect, for most of their time in power.
Rimé Movement (19th Century)
The Rimé movement was a special effort involving the Sakya, Kagyu, and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Some Bon scholars were also part of it. Leaders like Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892) and Jamgön Kongtrül (1813–1899) saw that the Gelug institutions were pushing other traditions aside. So, they gathered and printed the teachings of the Sakya, Kagyu, and Nyingma schools. Many of these teachings were almost lost. Without their work, the suppression of Buddhism by the Communists later on would have been much worse. The Rimé movement created important collections of scriptures.
Modern History (20th–21st Centuries)
20th Century: Independence, Chinese Occupation, and Exodus
In 1912, Tibet became mostly independent again. However, it was taken over by the Chinese People's Republic in 1950. In 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama and many religious leaders fled Tibet. They settled in India and other nearby countries. This event also led to Tibetan Buddhism spreading to Western countries. Now, there are Tibetan Buddhist communities all over the world.
Because many Tibetans left their homeland, Tibetan Buddhism has gained followers in the West and worldwide. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has traveled globally. He speaks about the well-being of Tibetans, the environment, economics, women's rights, and non-violence. He also discusses different types of Buddhism and science. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
21st Century: Exile and Global Spread
Today, Tibetan Buddhism is widely followed in the Tibetan Plateau, Mongolia, northern Nepal, and parts of Russia like Kalmykia, Tuva, and Buryatia. It is the official religion of Bhutan. Indian regions like Sikkim and Ladakh also have many Tibetan Buddhists. So do parts of Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Arunachal Pradesh in India.
See also
- Schools of Buddhism
