Sakya Trizin ( "Sakya Throne-Holder") is the traditional title of the head of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.Holy Biographies of the Great Founders of the Glorious Sakya Order, translated by Venerable Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen, Ani Kunga Chodron and Victoria Huckenpahler. Published by Sakya Phuntsok Ling Publications, Silver Spring MD. June 2000.
The Sakya school was founded in 1073 CE, when Khön Könchog Gyalpo (; 1034–1102), a member of Tibet's noble Khön family, established a monastery in the region of Sakya, Tibet, which became the headquarters of the Sakya order.The History of the Sakya Tradition, by Chogay Trichen. Manchester Free Press, U.K. 1983. Since that time, its leadership has descended within the Khön family.
The 41st Sakya Trizin, whose reign spanned more than fifty years, was the longest reigning Sakya Trizin. The current Sakya Trizin is Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, officially known as Kyabgon Gongma Trizin Rinpoche, the 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche.
Origin of Khön Lharig, the divine generation According to legend Ciring descended from the Rupadhatu (Realm of Clear Light) to earth. Ciring Yuse Yuring Masang Cije Togsa Pawo Tag Tagpo Ochen Yapang Kye
Khön family, the royal generation Because previous generations subjugated the rakshasas (demons), the family became the Family of Conquerors (, shortened to Khön) and therefore a royal family. Khön Bar Kye Khön Jekundag, minister of Trisong Detsen, student of Padmasambhava Khön Lu'i Wangpo Srungwa Khön Dorje Rinchen Khön Sherab Yontan Khön Yontan Jungne Khön Tsugtor Sherab Khön Gekyab Khön Getong Khön Balpo Khön Shakya Lodro Sherab Tsultrim
Sakya Trizin lineage
Sakya lineage, generations as Buddhist teachers.Drogmi Buddhist Institute, Throneholders of Sakya Khon Konchog Gyalpo founded the monastery in Sakya in 1073, and therefore the lineage was renamed Sakya. NameBiographical dataTenureTibetan name 1. Khon Konchog Gyalpo 1034–1102 1073–1102 2. Rinchen Drag 1040–1111 1103–1110 3. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo 1092–1158 1111–1158 4. Sonam Tsemo 1142–1182 1159–1171 5. Dragpa Gyaltsen 1147–1216 1172–1215 6. Sakya Pandita 1182–1251 1216–1243 6a. regent of Sakya Pandita 1243–1264 7. Drogön Chögyal Phagpa 1235–1280 1265–12661276–1280 8. Rinchen Gyaltsen 1238–1279 1267–1275 7a. Drogön Chögyal Phagpa 2nd reign 1276–1280 9. Dharmapala RakshitaA /琼结巴 or from /萨护罗国/萨霍尔国. Son of 达玛惹扎, grandson of 夏扎布达,() or son of /恰那多吉? 1268–1287 1281–1287 10. Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen 1258–1306 1288–1297 11. Sangpo Pal 1262–1324 1298–1324 12. Namkha Legpa Gyaltsen 1305–1343 ca. 1324–1342 13. Jamyang Donyö Gyaltsen 1310–1344 ca. 1342-1344 14. Lama Dampa Sönam Gyaltsen 1312–1375 1344–1347 15. Tawen Lodrö Gyaltsen 1332–1364 1347–1364 16. Tawen Kunga Rinchen 1339–1399 ca. 1364-1399 17. Lopön Chenpo Gushri Lodrö Gyaltsen 1366–1420 1399–1420 18. Jamyang Namkha Gyaltsen 1398–1472 1421–1441 19. Kunga Wangchuk 1418–1462 1442–1462 20. Gyagar Sherab Gyaltsen 1436–1494 1463–1472 21. Dagchen Lodrö Gyaltsen 1444–1495 1473–1495 22. Kunga Sönam 1485–1533 1496–1533 23. Ngagchang Kunga Rinchen 1517–1584 1534–1584 24. Jamyang Sönam Sangpo 1519–1621 1584–1589 25. Dragpa Lodrö 1563–1617 1589–1617 26. Ngawang Kunga Wangyal 1592–1620 1618–1620 27. Ngawang Kunga Sönam 1597–1659 1620–1659 28. Ngawang Sönam Wangchuk 1638–1685 1659–1685 29. Ngawang Kunga Tashi 1656–1711 1685–1711 30. Sönam Rinchen 1705–1741 1711–1741 31. Kunga Lodrö 1729–1783 1741–1783 32. Wangdu Nyingpo 1763–1809 1783–1806 33. Pema Dudul Wangchuk 1792–1853 1806–1843 34. Dorje Rinchen 1819–1867 1843–1845 35. Tashi Rinchen 1824–1865 1846–1865 36. Kunga Sönam 1842–1882 1866–1882 37. Kunga Nyingpo 1850–1899 1883–1899 38. Dzamling Chegu Wangdu 1855–1919 1901–1915 39. Dragshul Trinle Rinchen 1871–1936 1915–1936 40. Ngawang Thutob Wangdrag 1900–1950 1937–1950 41. Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Palbar *see Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga * 1945 1951–2017 42. Ratna Vajra Rinpoche * 1974 2017–2022 43.Gyana Vajra Rinpoche19792022–present
New succession system
On 11 December 2014, a new throne holder succession system was announced during the 23rd Great Sakya Mönlam prayer festival on a resolution passed by the Dolma Phodrang and Phuntsok Phodrang, where members of both Phodrang will serve the role of Sakya Trizin in one three-year term, according to their seniority and qualification.
Ratna Vajra Rinpoche was enthroned on 9 March 2017 as the 42nd Sakya Trizin, the first to be enthroned under the new system. Due to the COVID Pandemic, the 43rd Sakya Trizin Gyana Vajra Rinpoche was enthroned on 16 March 2022, five years after the enthronement of the 42nd Sakya Trizin. He is the current throne holder of the Sakya school.
Footnotes
References Penny-Dimri, Sandra. (1995). "The Lineage of His Holiness Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga." The Tibet Journal. Vol. XX, No. 4 Winter 1995, pp. 64–92. . Trizin, Sakya. Parting from the Four Attachments. Shang Shung Publications, 1999.
External links Sakya Dolma Phodrang's official website Hungarian website of Sakya Trizin including some information about Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding see last section http://www.glorioussakya.org/history/hhst/ https://treasuryoflives.org/en/institution/Sakya-Monastery#Abbots