A living reference atlas

Atlas of Religious and Esoteric Lineages

Five thousand religious, mystical, Indigenous and esoteric lineages from around the world — what they are, where they came from, and where to read more.

Source-linked and transparently qualified. Editorial standards and correction criteria are public.

Created and maintained by Ayara and Kyle Jonathan B@KJB_and_AYARA

Start with a topic guide Short reading paths with context and sources.

Entries: 5,000
Geographic connections: 7,326
Countries and territories: 162

Explore the index

Search five thousand distinct lineages

Geographic connections are still under review.
How to read the location information

5,000 lineages

Page 26 of 209

Atlas 0601Varies by lineage

Shangpa Kagyu

Buddhist Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: 11th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0602Community-bound / restricted

Bodong tradition

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: 14th–15th century florescence onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0603Initiatory

Zhijé tradition

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: 11th–13th century formation; later absorptions
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0604Community-bound / restricted

Yungdrung Bön

Bön & Himalayan Traditions Religious tradition

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: Textual and institutional formation mainly 10th–14th century onward, with older claimed origins
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0605Initiatory

Yuthok Nyingthig

Buddhist Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: Medieval attribution; later textual redactions and living transmission
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0606Open / public

Huang-Lao tradition

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Warring States antecedents; especially early Han, 3rd–2nd century BCE
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0607Open / public

Fangshi (“masters of methods”) traditions

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Warring States through Han and later legacies
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0608Community-bound / restricted

Xiāntiāndào

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 17th–19th century consolidation onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0609Community-bound / restricted

Yīguàndào

East Asian Traditions New religious movement

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 20th-century expansion; older lineage claims
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0610Open / public

Luo Teaching

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Late 15th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0611Open / public

Fayan Chan

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 10th–11th century as an institutional house; later influence
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0612Open / public

Yunmen Chan

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 10th–12th century as a distinct house; later textual influence
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0613Open / public

Guiyang Chan

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 9th–10th century as a distinct house
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0614Community-bound / restricted

Nuo ritual traditions

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Ancient textual antecedents; diverse living local traditions
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0615Community-bound / restricted

Meishan Masters’ ritual tradition

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Premodern origins; living regional lineages
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewChina

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Atlas 0616Open / public

Korean Hwaeom

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Country-level context could not be assessed from the available record
Period / origin: 7th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextCountry-level context could not be assessed from the available record

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Atlas 0617Open / public

Korean Cheontae

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Country-level context could not be assessed from the available record
Period / origin: 11th-century establishment under Uicheon; modern institutional revival
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextCountry-level context could not be assessed from the available record

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Atlas 0618Varies by lineage

Jingak Order

Buddhist Traditions Order / organization

Public geography: South Korea
Period / origin: 1947 onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewSouth Korea

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Atlas 0619Open / public

Won Buddhism

Buddhist Traditions New religious movement

Public geography: Country-level context could not be assessed from the available record
Period / origin: 1916 onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextCountry-level context could not be assessed from the available record

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Atlas 0620Open / public

Daejonggyo

Central, North & Inner Asian New religious movement

Public geography: Country-level context could not be assessed from the available record
Period / origin: Early 20th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextCountry-level context could not be assessed from the available record

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Atlas 0621Open / public

Ōbaku Zen

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 17th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan

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Atlas 0622Open / public

Ji-shū

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 13th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan

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Atlas 0623Open / public

Yūzū Nembutsu tradition

Buddhist Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 12th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan

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Atlas 0624Open / public

Watarai (Ise) Shintō

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 13th–14th century florescence; later influence
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan

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