The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (465 page)

nist scholar-monks and places much emphasis on philosophical precision. Sino-Japanese Buddhism (which includes Korean and Vietnamese forms) developed lineages independently of Indian Mah
y
na.
Early Buddhism is said to have divided into eighteen lineages on the basis of scholarly disputes about the nature of all three of the Three Jewels. None of the earliest lineages can be clearly identified in later Buddhism, but Therav
da may be seen as the oldest surviving lineage. It has become the dominant form of Buddhism in SE Asia. Therav
da has been repeatedly split over questions of monastic discipline (see
VINAYA
) and ordination practice, and the relative importance of doctrine and meditation.
Tibetan Buddhism has four main lineages divided into two major groups: Nyingmapa
(Tib., ‘Ancient Ones’), a single lineage attributed to the Indian missionary
Padmasambhava
(9th cent. CE), which arranges the dharma into nine vehicles
(Skt., Y
na); and Sarmapa
(Tib., ‘New Ones’), a group containing the three lineages of the Later Transmission: Kagyupa founded by Marpa (1012–
c.
1098), Sakyapa founded by Konchog Gyalpo (1034–1102), and the Gelugpa reform of Tsongkhapa (1357–1419). The Nyingma and Sarma groups differ over their understanding of
unyat
and the interpretation of Tantra. The sub-divisions of the Kagyu are the most complicated. There are two main divisions, Shangpa and Dragpo. The Dragpo has four divisions, of which the Karma Kagyu is the best known. Another division, Phagtru, itself has eight divisions, of which the Drikung and Drukpa are best known. Drukpa has further sub-divided into three. Tsongkhapa's lineage, Gelugpa, attempts a synthesis of what it considers the best features of all Sarma groups. The
Dalai Lamas
belong to the Gelugpa. The Tibetan lineages spread into Mongolia and mixed with the indigenous
shamanism
but without producing distinctly new lineages.
Chinese Buddhist lineages may be divided into three main types: modifications of Indian lineages, native scholastic lineages, and native popular lineages. All these lineages interact with each other in complex ways and this classification, although designed to be helpful, is in no way absolute. The major lineages based on Indian forms are one H
nay
na, Chü-shê or
bhidharmika; and two Mah
y
na, San-lun or
M
dhyamaka