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Mahayana ( "Great Vehicle", Chinese: 大乘, Dàshèng; Japanese: 大乗, Daijō; Korean: 대승, Dae-seung; Vietnamese: Đại Thừa) is one of two major branches of Buddhism existing today, the other being Theravada (上座部). Mahayana originated during the first century CE in the Indian subcontinent, and spread to China during the second century CE. Subsequently it spread throughout East Asia. The main countries in which it is practiced today are China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.