Traditions and Schools of Tibet: A History

Bold Names show the so-called "four major schools" often mentioned in literature; an over-simplification of historical reality.

  1. Bön "Invocation" | 3rd to 7th century
  2. Nyingmapa (rNying-ma-pa) "Ancient Ones" | ca. 765
  3. Kagyudpa (bKa-rgyud-pa) "Oral Transmission"
    • Shangpa (shangs-pa) | 1057
    • Dagpo (the "Four Golden Lineages") | 1125
      1. Barom ('Ba-rom); or Baram
      2. Karmapa (ka-rma-pa) | 1147
        • Orgyen Nyendrup (o-rgyan-pa; o rgyan bsnyen sgrub) | 14th/15th century
        • Rimed (ris-med) "Unbiased", i.e. non-sectarian | 19th century
        • Surmang
      3. Phagmo Drupa (Phag-mo-gru-pa) | 1158
        • Drikung ('Bri-khung-pa), or Brigung
        • Drugpa ('Brug-pa), or Brugpa
        • Martsang (sMar-tsang-pa), or Martzang
        • Shungseb (Shugs-gseb-pa), or Shugsep/Shuksep
        • Taglung (sTag-lung-pa), or Taklung
        • Trophu (Tr'o-p'u)
        • Yamsang (gYa'abzang), or Yazang
        • Yelpa (Yel-pa), or Yerpa
      4. Tsalpa (mTshal-pa), or Tselpa | 1175
  4. Kadampa (bKa'-gdams-pa) "Bound by Command" | 1057
    • Lamrimpa (lam-rim-pa)
    • Mengapa
    • Shungpa (Shugs-pa)
    • Gelugpa (dGe-lugs-pa) "Virtuous Doctrine" | 1409
  5. Sakyapa (Sa-skya-pa) | 1073
  6. Chöd (gCod) "Cutting, Severance" | ca. 1100
    • Shijed, or Zibyed, Zhi-je (zhi-byed-pa) "Pacifying Pain"