Material: Copper. Cast. (The bottom can hold holy objects)

Size: About 10 cm

Description:

Sakya Pandita (Tibetan: ས་སྐྱ་པཎ་ཆེན་ཀུན་དགའ་རྒྱལ་མཚན།, 1182-1251), also known as Sakya Pandita, is the fourth patriarch of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism and a very influential religious and political leader in Tibetan history. He played an important role in the development of religion, culture, politics and the relationship between Tibet and the Central Plains. His significance is not only reflected in the inheritance and development of religious ideas, but also in the fact that he facilitated the connection between Tibet and the Mongol Empire, which had a profound impact on the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and the political structure of Tibet. The following will describe Sakya Pandita's life, religious significance, political contributions, and related mythological stories.

### 1. Sakya Pandita's life and background

Sakya Pandita was born in 1182 and belonged to the Khön family, the founding family of the Sakya sect. His father was the third patriarch of the Sakya sect, Drakpa Gyaltsen (1147-1216). He received strict Buddhist education in Sakya Monastery since he was a child. He studied under many great masters in India and Tibet. He was proficient in the doctrines of exoteric and esoteric Buddhism, and was particularly good at logic (Buddhist logic), poetry, Sanskrit and literature. He was knowledgeable and was known as "Pandita" (meaning "great wise man"), and was one of the most outstanding scholars in the history of Tibetan Buddhism.

Sakya Pandita was not only proficient in Buddhism, but also in medicine, linguistics, astronomy and other fields. He wrote a large number of treatises, the most famous of which is the Treasure of the Logic (Tibetan: ཚད་མ་རིགས་པའི་གཏེར།, Thsad ma rigs pa'i gter), a classic that systematically expounds on logic and has a profound influence on the academic tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He also wrote the Treatise on the Three Vinayas (Tibetan: སྡོམ་པ་གསུམ་བསྟན།, sDom pa gsum bstan), which expounds on the relationship between precepts, bodhicitta and tantric practice, and became one of the core texts of Sakya teachings.

### 2. The religious significance of Sakyapa Kunga Gyaltsen

1. **The founder of Sakyapa doctrine**

Sakyapa Kunga Gyaltsen is regarded as the master of Sakyapa doctrine. He organized and perfected the teachings of Sakyapa, especially combining the Nalanda academic tradition of Indian Buddhism with the local culture of Tibet, making the teachings of Sakyapa more systematic. His academic achievements enabled Sakyapa to establish the characteristics of both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism in Tibetan Buddhism, especially emphasizing the practice of Mahamudra and Lamdré. His "Treasure of the Logic" is not only a classic of logic, but also laid the foundation for the debate tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

2. **The incarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva**

In the belief of Sakyapa, Sakyapa is regarded as the incarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva (Wisdom Bodhisattva), and this sacred identity gives him a very high religious status. The statue of Manjusri enshrined in Sakya Monastery is believed to be the original statue of Sabbhan. It is said that reciting the Manjusri Sutra for seven days in front of the statue can open the door to wisdom. This mythological image has strengthened Sabbhan's lofty status in the hearts of believers, making him a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.

3. **Cultural and academic inheritance** Sabbhan was proficient in Sanskrit and promoted the translation and research of Buddhist scriptures, making the translation of Tibetan Buddhist scriptures more accurate and preserving the original appearance of Indian Buddhism. His academic work not only promoted the development of Tibetan Buddhism, but also influenced the language, literature and cultural traditions of the Tibetan people. He was later hailed as one of the "fathers of Tibetan culture".

3. The political contribution of Sabbhan Gongga Gyaltsen Sabbhan Gongga Gyaltsen's political influence was mainly reflected in his interaction with the Mongol Empire, during the period when Genghis Khan and his successors unified the Central Plains. In 1240, Godan Khan, the son of the Mongol Khan Ogedei, led his troops to Tibet, hoping to have a dialogue with the leaders of various Tibetan Buddhist sects. Sakya Pandita was chosen as a representative because of his high reputation in Tibetan Buddhism. In 1244, he took his nephew Phagpa to Liangzhou (now Wuwei, Gansu) and met with Kuoduan in 1247.

1. **Tibet was incorporated into the territory of the Mongol Empire**

Sakya Pandita negotiated with Kuoduan in Liangzhou and wrote the famous "Letter to the Tibetans", persuading the Tibetan sects and nobles to accept the conditions of Mongolia's rule, avoiding war and peacefully incorporating Tibet into the territory of the Mongol Empire. This event marked the first time that Tibet officially became part of the Central Plains dynasty and laid the foundation for the central government's jurisdiction over Tibet in later generations.

2. **Establishing the political and religious status of the Sakya sect**

Sakya Pandita's negotiations not only protected the peace of Tibet, but also enhanced the political status of the Sakya sect. His nephew Phagpa was later named "Imperial Master" by Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, to lead the country's Buddhist affairs and assist in the management of Tibet. As a result, the Sakya sect became the actual ruling sect in Tibet during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Sakya Dynasty (1268-14th century), Sakya Monastery became the political, military and cultural center of Tibet, and Sakya Pandita's contributions laid the foundation for this.

IV. Myths and legends of Sakya Pandita Gongga Gyaltsen

The myths of Sakya Pandita Gongga Gyaltsen mainly come from the religious traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and the biographical documents of the Sakya sect. These stories portray him as a saint with extraordinary wisdom and divine power. The following are some legends related to Sakya Pandita:

1. **Legend of the incarnation of Manjushri**

The Sakya sect believes that Sakya Pandita is the incarnation of Manjushri, and this belief stems from his knowledge and wisdom. It is said that Sakya Pandita showed extraordinary wisdom when he was young and was able to master complex Buddhist scriptures and academic knowledge in a short period of time. In Ngadun Rinzin Lhakang of Sakya Monastery, the statue of Manjushri enshrined is considered to be closely related to Sakya Pandita, and believers believe that praying in front of the statue can gain wisdom blessings. According to legend, Sabbhan once practiced in seclusion in front of a statue of Manjusri and received direct enlightenment from Manjusri, which led to his writing of important treatises such as the Treasure of the Truth.

2. **A duel of wisdom with the Mongols**

A popular legend tells of how Sabbhan won the respect of the Mongol Khan Kuoduan through his wisdom and eloquence when he met him in Liangzhou. It is said that Kuoduan asked many profound questions about Buddhism, philosophy, and statecraft to test Sabbhan's knowledge. Sabbhan answered them one by one with his profound knowledge and clear logic, even impressing the Mongol nobles. This legend reinforced Sabbhan's image as a "pandita", showing that he not only represented religious authority but also demonstrated the power of culture and wisdom when facing foreigners.

3. **Inheritance of sacred relics**

Many of the sacred objects preserved in Sakya Monastery are related to Sabbhan, such as a statue of Manjusri and a statue of Yukham Tara. It is said that these sacred objects are images of the original deity that Sabbhan personally worshipped and have sacred power. In particular, the statue of Manjusri is considered to be the main deity of Sakya Pandita's practice, and believers believe that it contains Sakya Pandita's wisdom and blessing. In addition, the white conch shell given by Kublai Khan to Ba Siba, the treasure of Sakya Temple, is also related to the background of Sakya Pandita's era, symbolizing the close connection between Sakya and the Yuan Dynasty.

4. **Legends of subduing demons and protecting the Dharma**

In Tibetan Buddhism, the guardian gods (such as Mahakala and Mahakala) are important objects of faith. Although there is no direct document recording the specific mythological stories of Sakya Pandita and the guardian gods, the teachings of Sakya emphasize the role of the guardian gods in practice. As the leader of Sakya, Sakya Pandita may have participated in the ritual of worshiping the guardian gods and passed on the relevant secret methods. Some legends believe that Sakya used the power of Manjusri and the guardian gods to subdue obstacles and protect the inheritance of Sakya in his practice.

V. Historical and cultural significance of Sabbhan Gongga Gyaltsen

1. **Bridge between religion and culture**

Sabbhan promoted the development of Tibetan Buddhism by introducing the academic tradition of Indian Buddhism into Tibet and combining it with local culture. His translation work and writings made Tibetan an important language for recording Buddhist teachings, with far-reaching influence. Zhang Binglin, a master of Chinese studies, once commented that the Tibetan academic tradition "has the knowledge of civilization, but is not influenced by others", which is inseparable from Sabbhan's efforts. [](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/%25E8%2597%258F%25E5%2582%25B3%25E4%25BD%259B%25E6%2595%2599)

2. **The pioneer of the integration of politics and religion**

Sabbhan's negotiations with Mongolia opened the precedent for the integration of politics and religion in Tibetan Buddhism. His efforts made the Sakya sect the ruling sect in Tibet during the Yuan Dynasty, and influenced the later model of the integration of politics and religion of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni of the Gelug sect.

3. **International influence**

Sakyapan’s negotiations expanded the influence of Tibetan Buddhism to Mongolia and the Central Plains, laying the foundation for the globalization of Tibetan Buddhism. His nephew, Phagpa, later served as the imperial teacher in the Yuan Dynasty and introduced Tibetan Buddhism to the Central Plains, influencing the religious beliefs of Mongolians, Han Chinese and other ethnic groups.

VI. Conclusion

Sakyapan Kunga Gyaltsen is a key figure in the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. His religious significance lies in perfecting the doctrine system of the Sakya sect and laying the academic tradition of combining exoteric and esoteric Buddhism; his political contribution lies in the peaceful inclusion of Tibet into the territory of the Yuan Dynasty through negotiations with Mongolia, creating a model of integration of politics and religion; his mythological stories portray him as the incarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva, a symbol of wisdom and holiness. Sakya Pandita was not only a religious leader, but also a bridge between culture and politics. His legacy lives on in the sacred objects, documents and traditions of Sakya Monastery. Sakya Monastery, known as the "Second Dunhuang", is a symbol of his influence.

Sakya Pandita Gongga Gyaltsen (10cm bronze Buddha statue)