Generally spaking, traditional beliefs in Tibet come in two major forms. One of them encompasses the flok beliefs prevailed among the vast number of nomads who " worship and deity they see, circumambulate any stupa they come across and bow their head to every Living Buddha they encounter", regardless of sects and orders. These folk beliefs are very rich in content and closely related to people's daily life, culture, entertainment and various folk customes. The other form of belief encompasses the highly theorized,standardized and systemized theological religions that centered around monasteries and controlled the entire upper class of the tibetan society. Of these religions, the most prestigious and politically significant is Tibetan Buddhism that lasts till present day.

Religious development in Tibet took millenniums to run its course, from the primitive Bon faith to the Yungdrung Bon, and from the introduction of Buddhism into Tibet to the founding of the four major orders of Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and gelug. these raditions are briefly introduced as follow:

1. Primitve Bon
In its rudimentary stage, Primitive Bon faith was widely received in West Tibet. Tribal variations gave rise to many different schools of Bon including Phya Bon, Dud Bon, Tsan Bon and mag Bon etc. Despite the diversity of names, they shared more or less the same characteristics and objects of reverence. They worshipped Nature, revered many gods and demons, respected sorcerers and favored animal sacrifices. Objets of worship included sky and earth, mountains and rivvers, the sun, the moon, star, various plants, moneeys, rams and yaks, which were considered by Bonpos as supernatural beings with mystic power. Bonpos paid homage to gods and demons, and venerated sorcerers. They believed that there were god and demons, and venerated sorcerers. They believed that there were gods and demonds all around the human world, and that men and gods and demons were interdependent. The sorcerers performed withcraft to help humans communicate with gods and demons, in order to invoke blessing, to ask for medicine, to increase fortune, to improve fecundity, to foretell good or bad luck, and to expel evils. The purpose of animal sacrifices was to use blood to verify the Bonpo's piety towards supernatural power, to express their reverence and gratitude, and to invoke belssing. Large number of animals were illed every autumn and their meat and blood wre offerd. This is called marchod, the Red Offer of the Bonpos.

2. Yungdrung Bon
As people's knowledge increased with time, primitive beliefs grew more sophisticalted in form. Around th 3red century BC, Shenrab Miw improved and modified existing tradition of Bon, and drew upon beliefs ad cultures of neighboring tribes to give it a more refined shape. The substance of Primitive Bon was largely retained and new elements were introduced, eventually giving rise to the Yungdrung(swastika)Bon. This tradition met with success not only in Ngari, but also throughout the Tibetan region. As a polytheistic religion, Yungdrung Bon had its unique teachings, scriptures, iturgies and pantheons. Among its inovations was the adoption of a ritual known as Dos which involved the using of Torma, colorful butter and flour cakes sculpted into various animal forms to substitute for bloody sacrifices. Shenrab Miwo also expounded that the sky, which had nine levels, was the abode of the gods; the earth, which had threee subterranean layers, was the dwelling of Lu, the dragon gods; the humand world, which had only one level, was the domain of Tsanpo, the God King. He alleged that Tsanpo was the " Son fo heaven" descended from the sky to rule the secular world, and that he would return to heaven by means of an invisible ladder afer fulfilling his duty.

According to historical textes, from the first Tubo king Nyentri Tsanpo up to the 28th Tubo King Lathori Nyantsen, tibet was ruled under Bon tradition. An incident testifying to its great significance is the Grand Alliance Ceremony in which the Tubo king allied with his neighbors. A shaman was summoned to pay homage to the sky and earth, mountains and rivers, the sun, the moon, and the stars.

3. Introduction fo Buddhism into Tibet
When Buddhism was formally introduced into Tibet during the 7th century, it was strongly resisted by indigenous Bon faith, which resulted in many severe comats. This is know as the " Contention between Buddhism and Bon" in Tibetan history. In ace of sever attacks, Buddhism was forced to change tactics. The Indian mahyana adept Padmasambhava, whose teaching was considered more congruous to traditional tibetan values and closer to Bon belief, was invited to visit tibet. He captured the heart of th Bonpos by displayig his magical power through mantras and sorcery. he tamed local bon deities and converted them into guardians of Buddhism. Eentually, he managed to turn the opposing relationship into a harmonious one and integrate the two religions to form the unique Tibeta Buddhism.

4. The Four major Orders of Tibetan Buddhism
1)Nyingma order
This order was founded in mid 11th century by monks upholding ancient tantric teachings. In the early stage, the teaching was transmitted from person to person through esoteric means and no monastic organization was involved. This order did not see any significant development until the 16th century when relatively large monasteries came into existence under strong imperial patronage. The most prominent example was the Mindroling Monastery in Utsang. The Nyingmapa revered Padmasambhave as the founder of their order, and their highest goal was to achieve Dzongchen, or the Great Perfection. Since Nyingmaps monks wore red hats, this order was also known as the " Red Sect".

2) Kagyu Order
This order was founded by the great translator Marpa and his disciple Milarepa in the 11th century. its teaching was passed down through oral transmission, from which derived the name Kagyu. Self cultivation was greatly emphasized and the greatest objective was to achieve a state of Buddhahood known as mahamudra, or the great Seal. From the Kagyu derived many sub-orders, each having its own head monastery. For instance, the Tsurphu Monastery to the north of Lhasa has been the head monastery of the Karma Kagy sub- order. Snce Milarepa adopted the Indian custome of waring white during his meditative practice this order was also known as the " White Sect".

3)Sakaya Order
The Sakya Order was formally established when the Sakya Monastery was bulit in 1073 by Knon Konchock Gyalpo. Since the wall of this monastery was painted with stripes of red, white and black to symbolize the three Bodhisattvas of Manjusri, Avalokitesvara adn Vajrapani, the order was also known as the " Colored Sect". this order branched out into two schools, one passed down through family lineage and the other through recognized legitimacy. The order was at its zenith at the time when China was under Mongol rule during the latter half of the 13th century. Its fifth patriarch Chogyal Phagspa was conferred Imperial Preceptor by Khublai Khan and was recognized as the political leader of Tibet. For the first time, tibet was united under a joint spiritual and political authority.

4) gelug Order
Gzi This order was founded by te great reformer Tsong Khapa in the 15th century. It derived its teaching from the Kadam tradition of the 11th century. it advocated strict monastic discipline, asceticism and celibacy, and maintained that monks shold not take part in agriculture. Sutra and tantra were equally emphasized but accordidng to Tsong Khapa, practitioners shold have a thorough knowledge of the former before going into the latter. Endeavors wre made to break the deadlock of sectarian bias.

Upholding the banner of religious reform, the Gelug Order swept across the Land of Snwo with overwhelming force and subsequently emerged as the most well-known order in tibetan Buddhism. To distinguish themselves from monks of other sects, Gelugpa monks wore a yellow hat, thus deriving the name" Yellow Sect". Despite its comparatively short history, the Gelug Order was the most fast-frowing and most influential among the four major orders. its impact on tibetan Buddhism was profound.

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