From 8th century Han-Tibetan documents discovered at Dunhuangwe can see that the Sino-Tibetan Buddhist ritual practices of White Tara were popular and influential, having as their aim the protection of the individual and the state.This tradition later died out in Han areas and the themes of the practices also changed.In the Yuan and Qing Dynasties the function of the practices as providing protection for the state were revived but were no longer linked with the political rationale of the tradition of the reincarnated sage king.
