In the Buddhist world, it is believed that religious and sacred dances were first performed by Guru Padmasambhava in 765 A.D when he performed Vajrakilaya dance to overcome the demons and the Bon shamans for the establishment of Samye Monastery in Tibet. Mask dances are part of tantric traditions and one of four teachings of vajrayana in which, through dances, one is cleansed of the sins and delivered to nirvana just by observing them.

By the middle of 15th century, Bhutan developed its own sacred dance traditions associated to Treasure Discoverer, Tertoen Pema Lingpa and with the visit of Shabdrung in 17th century mask dances were first instituted in the Dzongs (fortresses) and today one can witness it being performed in almost every monastery by monks.

The meaning of all religious dances are subjugation of enemies of doctrines and purification of oneselves. Three categories of religious dances are (although they overlap):

Instructive Dances

These dances are performed mainly to impart the teachings of Buddhism. It is through these dances that laity understand the merit of practising the doctrine and the demerits of not doing so. Examples of the instructive dances are the Shaw Saki (the dance of the Stag and the Hounds) and Raksha Machham (the Dance of the Judgement of Dead).

Purification and Protection Dances

These dances are performed to purify the grounds for construction and to cleanse the place of defilement before conducting a religious ceremony and during concrecration. It is also performed to imply that the doctrine is protected from the evil influences of its enemies. Examples are Degyad Chham (dance of the eight spirits) and Padling Ter Chham composed by Pema Lingpa to as seen in his dream to consecrete and sanctify the Lhundrup Choeling monastery in Tamshing, Bumthang.

Victory Dances

The victory dances are performed to celebrate the victory of Buddhism over its enemies who tried to obstruct its propagation. Examples are Chhoe zhey (performed by lay dancers dressed in black gowns and silk borcades and they wear a silver amulet and a headband) and Padling ging sum (Gyug ging, Dri ging, Nga ging) composed by Pema Lingpa as he saw in the Celestial Abode of Guru Padmasambhava to overcome obstructions of doctrines by evil forces.