Schools of Buddhism refers to the various institutional and doctrinal divisions of Buddhism that have existed from ancient times up to the present. The classification and nature of various doctrinal, philosophical or cultural facets or schools of Buddhism is vague and has been interpreted in many different ways, often due to the sheer number (perhaps thousands) of different sects, subsects, movements, etc. that have made up or currently make up the whole of Buddhist traditions. The sectarian and conceptual divisions of Buddhist thought are part of the modern framework of Buddhist studies, as well as comparative religion in Asia.
From a largely English language standpoint, and to some extent in most of Western academia, Buddhism is separated into two groups at its foundation: Theravāda literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching," and Mahāyāna, literally the "Great Vehicle." The most common classification among scholars is threefold, with Mahāyāna itself split between the traditional Mahāyāna teachings, and the Vajrayāna teachings which emphasize esotericism.
The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion distinguishes three types of classification of Buddhism, separated into "Movements", "Nikāyas" and "Doctrinal schools":
Schools:
Theravada, primarily in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Mahāyāna, primarily in East Asia.
Vajrayāna, primarily in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia and the Russian republic of Kalmykia.
Nikāyas, or monastic fraternities, three of which survive at the present day:
Theravāda, in Southeast Asia and South Asia
Dharmaguptaka, in China, Korea and Vietnam
Mūlasarvāstivāda, in the Tibetan tradition
Doctrinal schools
The terminology for the major divisions of Buddhism can be confusing, as Buddhism is variously divided by scholars and practitioners according to geographic, historical, and philosophical criteria, with different terms often being used in different contexts. The following terms may be encountered in descriptions of the major Buddhist divisions:
"Conservative Buddhism"
an alternative name for the early Buddhist schools.
"Early Buddhist schools"
the schools into which Buddhism became divided in its first few centuries; only one of these survives as an independent school, Theravāda
"East Asian Buddhism"
a term used by scholars to cover the Buddhist traditions of Japan, Korea, and most of China and Southeast Asia
"Eastern Buddhism"
an alternative name used by some scholars for East Asian Buddhism; also sometimes used to refer to all traditional forms of Buddhism, as distinct from Western(ized) forms.
"Ekayāna (one yana)
Mahayana texts such as the Lotus Sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra sought to unite all the different teachings into a single great way. These texts serve as the inspiration for using the term Ekayāna in the sense of "one vehicle". This "one vehicle" became a key aspect of the doctrines and practices of Tiantai and Tendai Buddhist sects, which subsequently influenced Chán and Zen doctrines and practices. In Japan, the one-vehicle teaching of the Lotus Sutra also inspired the formation of the Nichiren sect.
"Esoteric Buddhism"
usually considered synonymous with "Vajrayāna". Some scholars have applied the term to certain practices found within the Theravāda, particularly in Cambodia.
"Hīnayāna"
literally meaning "lesser vehicle." It is considered a controversial term when applied by the Mahāyāna to mistakenly refer to the Theravāda school, and as such is widely viewed as condescending and pejorative. Moreover, Hīnayāna refers to the now non extant schools with limited set of views, practices and results, prior to the development of the Mahāyāna traditions. The term is currently most often used as a way of describing a stage on the path in Tibetan Buddhism, but is often mistakenly confused with the contemporary Theravāda tradition, which is far more complex, diversified and profound, than the literal and limiting definition attributed to Hīnayāna . Its use in scholarly publications is now also considered controversial.
"Lamaism"
an old term, still sometimes used, synonymous with Tibetan Buddhism; widely considered derogatory.
"Mahāyāna"
a movement that emerged from early Buddhist schools, together with its later descendants, East Asian and Tibetan Buddhism. Vajrayāna traditions are sometimes listed separately. The main use of the term in East Asian and Tibetan traditions is in reference to spiritual levels, regardless of school.
"Mainstream Buddhism"
a term used by some scholars for the early Buddhist schools.
"Mantrayāna"
usually considered synonymous with "Vajrayāna". The Tendai school in Japan has been described as influenced by Mantrayana.
"Newar Buddhism"
a non-monastic, caste based Buddhism with patrilineal descent and Sanskrit texts.
"Nikāya Buddhism" or "schools"
an alternative term for the early Buddhist schools.
"Non-Mahāyāna"
an alternative term for the early Buddhist schools.
"Northern Buddhism"
an alternative term used by some scholars for Tibetan Buddhism. Also, an older term still sometimes used to encompass both East Asian and Tibetan traditions. It has even been used to refer to East Asian Buddhism alone, without Tibetan Buddhism.
"Secret Mantra"
an alternative rendering of Mantrayāna, a more literal translation of the term used by schools in Tibetan Buddhism when referring to themselves.
"Sectarian Buddhism"
an alternative name for the early Buddhist schools.
"Southeast Asian Buddhism"
an alternative name used by some scholars for Theravāda.
"Southern Buddhism"
an alternative name used by some scholars for Theravāda.
"Śravakayāna"
an alternative term sometimes used for the early Buddhist schools.
"Tantrayāna" or "Tantric Buddhism"
usually considered synonymous with "Vajrayāna". However, one scholar describes the tantra divisions of some editions of the Tibetan scriptures as including Śravakayāna, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna texts (see Buddhist texts). Some scholars, particularly François Bizot, have used the term "Tantric Theravada" to refer to certain practices found particularly in Cambodia.
"Theravāda"
the Buddhism of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and parts of Vietnam, China, India, and Malaysia. It is the only surviving representative of the historical early Buddhist schools. The term "Theravāda" is also sometimes used to refer to all the early Buddhist schools.
"Tibetan Buddhism"
usually understood as including the Buddhism of Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan and parts of China, India and Russia, which follow the Tibetan tradition.
"Vajrayāna"
a movement that developed out of Indian Mahāyāna, together with its later descendants. There is some disagreement on exactly which traditions fall into this category. Tibetan Buddhism is universally recognized as falling under this heading; many also include the Japanese Shingon school. Some scholars also apply the term to the Korean milgyo tradition, which is not a separate school. One scholar says, "Despite the efforts of generations of Buddhist thinkers, it remains exceedingly difficult to identify precisely what it is that sets the Vajrayana apart."
Sthaviravāda
Pudgalavāda ('Personalist') (c. 280 BCE)
Sarvāstivāda
Vibhajyavāda (prior to 240 BCE; during Aśoka)
Theravāda (c. 240 BCE)
Theravāda subschools (see below)
Mahīśāsaka (after 232 BCE)
Dharmaguptaka (after 232 BCE)
Kāśyapīya (after 232 BCE)
Vatsīputrīya (under Aśoka) later name: Saṃmitīya
Dharmottarīya
Bhadrayānīya
Sannāgarika
Mūlasarvāstivāda (third and fourth centuries)
Sautrāntika (between 50 BCE and c. 100 CE)
Mahāsāṃghika ('Majority', c. 380 BCE)
Ekavyahārikas (under Aśoka)
Lokottaravāda
Golulika (during Aśoka)
Bahuśrutīya (late third century BCE)
Prajñaptivāda (late third century BCE)
Cetiyavāda
Caitika (mid-first century BCE)
Apara Śaila
Uttara Śaila
The following lists the twenty sects described as Hīnayāna, as the classification is understood in some Mahāyāna texts:
Sthaviravāda split into the 11 sects:
Sarvāstivādin
Haimavata
Vatsīputrīya
Dharmottara
Bhadrayānīya
Sammitiya
Channagirika
Mahīśāsaka
Dharmaguptaka
Kāśyapīya
Sautrāntika
Sthaviravāda─┬─ Haimavata────────────────────────────────────────────
└─ Sarvāstivādin─┬───────────────────────────────────
├ Vatsīputrīya ─┬────────────────────
│ ├ Dharmottara───────
│ ├ Bhadrayānīya─────
│ ├ Sammitiya────────
│ └ Channagirika─────
├ Mahīśāsaka─┬─────────────────────
│ └ Dharmaguptaka──────
├ Kāśyapīya────────────────────────
└ Sautrāntika──────────────────────
Mahāsāṃghika split into 9 sects:
Ekavyahārika
Lokottaravādin
Kaukkutika
Bahuśrutīya
Prajñaptivāda
Caitika
Aparaśaila
Uttaraśaila.
Mahasanghika─┬──────────────────────┬─────
├ Ekavyahārika ├ Caitika
├ Lokottaravādin ├ Aparaśaila
├ Kaukkutika └ Uttaraśaila
├ Bahuśrutīya
└ Prajñaptivāda
The following later schools used the vinaya of the Dharmaguptaka:
Chinese Buddhism, especially the Vinaya School
Korean Buddhism, especially Gyeyul
Vietnamese Buddhism
Japanese Ritsu
The following involve philosophical influence:
The Japanese Jojitsu is considered by some an offshoot of Sautrāntika; others consider it to be derived from Bahuśrutīya
The Chinese/Japanese Kusha school is considered an offshoot of Sarvāstivāda, influenced by Vasubandhu.
The different schools in Theravāda often emphasize different aspects (or parts) of the Pāli canon and the later commentaries, or differ in the focus on and recommended way of practice. There are also significant differences in strictness or interpretation of the vinaya.
Bangladesh:
Sangharaj Nikaya
Mahasthabir Nikaya
Burma:
Thudhamma Nikaya
Vipassanā tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw and disciples
Shwegyin Nikaya
Dvaya Nikaya or Dvara Nikaya (see Mendelson, Sangha and State in Burma, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1975)
Hngettwin Nikaya
Sri Lanka:
Siam Nikaya
Waturawila (or Mahavihara Vamshika Shyamopali Vanavasa Nikaya)
Amarapura Nikaya
Kanduboda (or Swejin Nikaya)
Tapovana (or Kalyanavamsa)
Ramañña Nikaya
Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha (or ‘Galduwa Tradition’)
Delduwa
forest nikaya
Thailand
Maha Nikaya
Dhammakaya Movement
Mahasati meditation (mindfulness meditation)
Thammayut Nikaya
Thai Forest Tradition
Tradition of Ajahn Chah
Vipassana movement
Tantric Theravada
Indian Buddhism
Mādhyamaka
Prāsangika
Svātantrika
Yogācāra
Chinese Buddhism
Vinaya school
Jingtu (Pure Land)
Satyasiddhi (Historical)
Abhidharmakośa (Historical)
Daśabhūmikā (absorbed into Huayan)
Tiantai
Huayan (Avataṃsaka)
Chan (Zen)
Tangmi (Esoteric)
Sanlun (Mādhyamaka)
Weishi (Yogācāra)
Korean Buddhism
Tongbulgyo (Interpenetrated Buddhism - including Jeongto, or Pure Land)
Gyeyul (Vinaya school)
Cheontae (Tiantai)
Hwaeom (Avataṃsaka)
Seon (Zen)
Jingak (Esoteric)
Samnon (Mādhyamaka)
Beopsang (Yogācāra)
Yeolban (Nirvana school)
Wonbulgyo (Korean Reformed Buddhism)
Vietnamese Buddhism
Tịnh Độ (Pure Land)
Thiền (Zen)
Trúc Lâm (Syncretic)
Unified Buddhist Church (Engaged Buddhism)
Hòa Hảo (Reformist)
Japanese Buddhism
Pure Land
Jōdo-shū
Jōdo Shinshū
Ji-shū
Yūzū-nembutsu-shū
Risshū school (Vinaya school)
Jojitsu (Satyasiddhi - historical)
Kusha (Abhidharmakośa - historical)
Sanron (Mādhyamaka - historical)
Hossō (Yogācāra)
Kegon (Avatamsaka)
Japanese esoteric Buddhism
Tendai (Tiantai)
Shingon
Shinnyo-en
Shugendo (Syncretic)
Zen
Rinzai
Sōtō
Ōbaku
Fuke-shū (Historical)
Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Shū
Honmon Butsuryū-shū
Kempon Hokke
Nichiren Shōshū
Subcategorised according to predecessors
Tibetan Buddhism
Nyingma
New Bön (synthesis of Yungdrung Bön and Nyingmapa)
Kadam (Historical)
Gelug
New Kadampa Tradition
Sakya
Ngor-pa
Tsar-pa
Jonang
Kagyu:
Shangpa Kagyu
Marpa Kagyu:
Rechung Kagyu
Dagpo Kagyu:
Karma Kagyu (or Kamtshang Kagyu)
Tsalpa Kagyu
Baram Kagyu
Pagtru Kagyu (or Phagmo Drugpa Kagyu):
Taklung Kagyu
Trophu Kagyu
Drukpa Kagyu
Martsang Kagyu
Yerpa Kagyu
Yazang Kagyu
Shugseb Kagyu
Drikung Kagyu
Rime movement (ecumenical movement)
Newar Buddhism
Tangmi Buddhism
Japanese Mikkyo
Shingon
Tendai (derived from Tiantai but added tantric practices)
Shinnyo-en
Shugendo (Syncretized with Shinto, Taoism, and shamanism)
Dalit Buddhist movement
Dhammakaya Movement
Diamond Way
Engaged Buddhism
Kenshōkai
New Kadampa Tradition
Nipponzan Myōhōji
Reiyūkai
Risshō Kōsei Kai
Shambhala Buddhism
Share International
Shōshinkai
Sōka Gakkai
Triratna Buddhist Community
True Buddha School
Vipassana movement
Won Buddhism
