Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c4.s2.88

v1.c4.s2.88

From the late 10^th to late 15^th century CE, Tibetan Buddhism had its “second propagation”. During this time, its leading sects such as Nyingma, Ganden, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug, had been formed. Smritijnanakirti, an Indian scholar came to Tibet in the latter half of the 10^th century CE adept at panca-vidya and esoteric Buddhism, he disseminated Buddhism in Tibet, translated many tantric texts and wrote *Yu Yan Men Lun*, a Tibetan grammar book. Rinchen Zangpo (958～1055 CE) was one of the most important figures in the revival of Tibetan Buddhism. He had been to India three times and successively studied under 75 scholars there. Back in Tibet, he translated 50 sutrayanas and 108 tantrayanas. In 1043, Atisa, once a Theravada preacher at Vikramasila, was invited to expound Buddhism in Tibet; he had many followers, and his *Pu Ti Dao Deng Lun* (*A Lamp for the Enlightenment Path*) had a great influence in Tibet. Between the 10ᵗʰ to 13ʳᵈ centuries CE, many youth went to study in Tibet and there were more than 160 translators, while over 60-70 Indian monks were doing translation in Tibet. From 10ᵗʰ to 17ᵗʰ centuries CE, Indian medicine, astrology, hetuvidya, phonology, literature, arts, language and writing, all had a significant impact on Tibet.