or Gelukpa
Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism , the chief religion in Tibet since the 17th century.
It was founded in the 14th century by Tsong-kha-pa (1357–1419). His reforms included strict monastic discipline, celibacy, and improved education for monks. The head of the chief monastery at Lhasa first received the title of Dalai Lama from Altan Khan in 1578. With his aid the Dge-lugs-pa triumphed over the Karma-pa, or Red Hat, sect. The Dge-lugs-pa ruled Tibet until the Chinese Communist takeover (1950); the sect continues to exist, but many of its members, including the Dalai Lama, remain in exile.