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EAST ASIA.
BUDDHISM.
Tibet is the centre of Buddhism, a religion rivalling Christianity in the number
of its followers. But although the most zealous of Buddhists, the Tibetans have
modified their cult under the influence of previous rites, climate, social habits, and
relations with the surrounding nations to such an extent that it only bears an outward
resemblance to the primitive religion
of Shakya-muni.
After three centuries
of preliminary
efforts the Hindu missionaries began the serious work of conversion
in the fifth century. Previous to that time the Tibetan rites, analogous to those of
the Chinese Taoism, consisted in making offerings accompanied with prayers to the
lakes, mountains, and trees, representing the forces of nature. Two hundred years
passed before this Bon- or Pon-bo religion yielded to the new worship, the first
temple of which was erected in 698. Within the next century the country was
covered with monasteries, and the religion
of Buddha was diffused " like the light of
the sun " throughout Tibet. This was the golden age of theocracy, for according
to the Mongolian historian Sanang Setzen " the boundless veneration for their
priests gave to the people a bliss like that of the happy spirits."
Still the older
rites do not seem to have entirety vanished, as, according to the same writer, " the
love of good thoughts and of meritorious deeds was afterwards forgotten like a
dream." The doctrine was not fully enforced till the close of the tenth century,
when it soon began to split into various sects. Four centuries afterwards came the
great revival. The monk Tsonkhapa undertook the revision of the sacred writings,
formulated new precepts, and modified the ritual. His disciples are the " Yellow
Caps," or Geluk-pa, who prevail in Tibet, while the older sect of the " Red Caps "
( I )uk-pa, or Shammar) has held its ground in Nepal and Bhutan. But for both, as
well as for the other seven sects of Tibet, red has remained one of the sacred colours
of the cloister and temples. According to the ordinances, the religious edifices,
usually of pyramidal form, should have the north front painted green, the east red,
the south yellow, the west remaining white.
By his followers Tsonkhapa was regarded as the incarnation of the deity,
as a
living Buddha, who had put on the appearance of human nature. He never dies,
but passes from body to body under the form of a Kliubilyan, or " New-born
Buddha," and is in this way perpetuated as the Tashi-lama in the holy monastery of
Tashi-lumpo, near Shigatze. Another living Buddha has sprung up by his side,
and acquired even greater political power, thanks to his residence in the capital
and to his direct relations with the Chinese officials. This is the Dalai-lama, or
" Ocean lama," whose instalment on the throne of Buddha is variously related.
But whether due to a Mongolian invasion, or to the action of the Chinese emperor
in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, the ecclesiastical prince of Lassa has taken
rank amongst the immortal gods, who by a new birth ever renew themselves from
generation to generation. A third living Buddha in this hierarchy is the chief
lama of Urga in Mongolia. But there are several others, and even in Tibet itself
the head of a nunnery on the south side of Lake Palti is also regarded as a divine
female Buddha.