Buddhist Traditions
Tradition↕ | Main Region↕ | Vehicle↕ | Key Text↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Theravada | Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos | Hinayana (Way of the Elders) | Pali Canon (Tipitaka) | Oldest surviving school, monastic focus, individual liberation (arhat) |
Mahayana | China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam | Mahayana (Great Vehicle) | Lotus Sutra, Heart Sutra | Bodhisattva ideal, compassion for all beings, largest branch |
Vajrayana (Tibetan) | Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal | Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle) | Tibetan Book of the Dead, tantras | Dalai Lama, mandalas, mantras, rapid path to enlightenment |
Zen (Chan) | Japan, China, Korea | Mahayana | Platform Sutra, koans | Meditation (zazen), koans, minimalism, direct experience over scripture |
Pure Land | China, Japan | Mahayana | Three Pure Land Sutras | Devotion to Amitabha Buddha, nembutsu chanting, largest in Japan |
Nichiren | Japan | Mahayana | Lotus Sutra | Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Soka Gakkai lay movement |
Shingon | Japan | Vajrayana | Mahavairocana Sutra | Esoteric Japanese Buddhism, mandalas, Mount Koya, founder Kukai |
Tendai | Japan | Mahayana | Lotus Sutra | Mount Hiei, Kaihogyo marathon monks who run 1000 days |
Seon (Korean Zen) | Korea | Mahayana | Diamond Sutra | Jogye Order, temple stays, hwadu meditation |
Thien (Vietnamese Zen) | Vietnam | Mahayana | Lotus Sutra | Thich Nhat Hanh, Plum Village, engaged Buddhism |
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This dataset contains 10 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
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