Final answer:
The second great period of expansion for Buddhism was marked by the growth of Mahayana Buddhism, with schools such as Pure Land and Chan (Zen) Buddhism developing alongside the existing Theravada and Vajrayana traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second great period of Buddhist expansion, characterized by the development of Mahayana Buddhism, saw the rise of distinct schools of Buddhism. Among these, Pure Land Buddhism stood out as a school that emphasized devotion to Amida and accessible practices for salvation, contrasting with scholarly text study. Meanwhile, Chan Buddhism (Zen Buddhism), which developed during the fifth and sixth centuries and gained popularity under the Tang dynasty, focused on meditation as a means to enlightenment.
The Mahayana tradition, particularly influential in East Asia, puts a strong emphasis on universal compassion and selflessness, advocating a lifestyle compatible with other beliefs. In contrast to the Mahayana's widespread diffusion, the Theravada tradition stayed closer to the original Buddha's teachings and was more prominent in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. Vajrayana Buddhism, also rooted in the Buddha's original teachings, gained the strongest allegiance in regions such as Tibet and Bhutan and included spiritual techniques to break the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.