Editing Vajrayana (section)

=== Indo-Tibetan Buddhism ===
{{Tibetan Buddhism}}
{{main|Tibetan Buddhism}}

Vajrayāna Buddhism was initially established in [[Tibet]] in the 8th century when various figures like [[Padmasambhava|Padmasambhāva]] (8th century CE) and [[Śāntarakṣita]] (725–788) were invited by King [[Trisong Detsen]], some time before 767. Tibetan Buddhism reflects the later stages tantric [[Indian Buddhism]] of the [[Gupta Empire|post-Gupta]] [[Medieval India|Early Medieval]] period (500 to 1200 CE).{{sfn|White|2000|p=21}}{{sfn|Davidson|2002|p=2}}

This tradition practices and studies a set of tantric texts and commentaries associated with the more "left hand" (''[[vamachara]]'') tantras, which are not part of East Asian Esoteric Buddhism. These tantras (sometimes termed '[[Anuttarayoga]] tantras' include many transgressive elements, such as sexual and mortuary symbolism that is not shared by the earlier tantras that are studied in East Asian Buddhism. These texts were translated into [[Classical Tibetan]] during the "New translation period" (10th–12th centuries). Tibetan Buddhism also includes numerous native Tibetan developments, such as the [[tulku]] system, new [[sadhana]] texts, Tibetan scholastic works, [[Dzogchen]] literature and [[Terma (religion)|Terma]] literature. There are four major traditions or schools: [[Nyingma]], [[Sakya (Tibetan Buddhist school)|Sakya]], [[Kagyu]], and [[Gelug]].

In the pre-modern era, Tibetan Buddhism spread outside of Tibet primarily due to the influence of the [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]] [[Yuan dynasty]] (1271–1368), founded by [[Kublai Khan]], which ruled [[China]], [[Mongolia]] and eastern [[Siberia]]. In the [[Modern history|modern era]] it has spread outside of Asia due to the efforts of the [[Tibetan diaspora]] (1959 onwards).

The Tibetan Buddhist tradition is today found in Tibet, [[Buddhism in Bhutan|Bhutan]], northern [[Buddhism in India|India]], [[Buddhism in Nepal|Nepal]], southwestern and northern [[Buddhism in China|China]], [[Buddhism in Mongolia|Mongolia]] and various constituent [[republics]] of [[Buddhism in Russia|Russia]] that are adjacent to the area, such as [[Amur Oblast]], [[Republic of Buryatia|Buryatia]], [[Zabaykalsky Krai]], the [[Tuva Republic]] and [[Khabarovsk Krai]]. Tibetan Buddhism is also the main religion in [[Kalmykia]]. It has also spread to Western countries and there are now international networks of Tibetan Buddhist temples and meditation centers in the Western world from all four schools.