Tibetan Buddhism
( 2005-10-26 )

2. Sagya Sect

Sagya means "white land'' in Tibetan. The Sagya Sect, founded in the late 11th century, derived its name from the grayish white color of the Sagya Monastery, the sect's most important monastery. Enclosures in the sect's monasteries are painted with red, white, and black stripes, which respectively symbolize the Wisdom Buddha, the Goddess of Mercy, and the Diamond Hand Buddha. Hence, the sect is also known as the "Stripe Sect." The ever increasing influence of the sect and the expansion of feudal forces throughout its formation led to the increasing fame of the "Five Sagya Sect Forefathers.''

In 1247, a ruler of the laterYuan Dynasty(1271-1368) summoned the Fourth Forefather of the Sagya Sect, Sapan Gonggar Gyaincain, to Liangzhou in Northwest China'sGansu Province. As a result, Sapan brought various feudal forces in Tibet under Yuan control.

Following the death of Sapan, Phags-pa, the Fifth Forefather of the Sagya Sect, emerged as a high-ranking official in the Yuan court. He was granted honorary titles such as "State Tutor," ''Imperial Tutor,'' and ''Great Treasure Prince of Dharma.'' Thereafter, the Sagya Sect emerged as the Yuan Dynasty representative in Tibet.

During theMing Dynasty(1368-1644), Gonggar Zhaxi, an eminent monk with the Sagya Sect, journeyed toNanjing, capital of the Ming Dynasty, to pay homage to Emperor Yong Le. Therefore, Gonggar was granted an honorary title as the "Mahayana Prince of Dharma,'' one of the three Princes of Dharma.

3. Gagyu Sect

The Gagyu Sect, founded in the 11th century, stresses the study of Tantrism and advocates that Tantrist tenets be passed down orally from one generation to another. Hence the name Gagyu, which in Tibetan means "passing down orally.'' Marba and Milha Riba, the founders of the Gagyu Sect, wore white monk robes when practicing Buddhism, hence the name White Sect.

In the early years, the White Sect was divided into the Xangba Gagyu, which declined in the 14th and to 15th centuries, and the Tabo Gagyu. The Tabo Gagyu was powerful and its branch sects were either in power in their respective localities or otherwise dominant among feudal forces.

4. Gadang Sect

The Gadang Sect, founded in 1056, primarily advocated the study of exoteric teachings, with later emphasis on Tantrism (active religious practice). In the Tibetan language, Ga refers to the teachings of Buddha, with tang meaning instruction. Gadang thus refers to advising people to accept Buddhism based on the teachings of Buddha. Its doctrines were promoted far and wide and thus exerted great influence on various Tibetan Buddhist sects. However, along with the rise of the Gelug Sect in the 15th century, the Gadang Sect dissolved, with its monks and monasteries merging with the former.