Sa-skya-pa

Tibetan Buddhist sect
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sa-skya-pa
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Also known as: Sakya, Sakyapa
Quick Facts
Also spelled:
Sakyapa
Date:
c. 1073 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
Tibetan Buddhism
Related People:
Bu-ston
’Brog-mi

Sa-skya-pa, Tibetan Buddhist sect that takes its name from the great Sa-skya (Sakya) monastery founded in 1073, 50 miles (80 km) north of Mount Everest. The sect follows the teachings of the noted traveler and scholar ’Brog-mi (992–1072). He translated into Tibetan the important Tantric work Hevajra Tantra, which remains one of the basic texts of the order. He also transmitted into Tibet from India the teachings of the lam-’bras (“path and result”).

From about 1270 to 1340 the abbots of the Sa-skya monastery were invested by the Mongol overlords with the temporal authority of Tibet, but they lost power as the Mongol dynasty declined.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.