Sakya Trizin


Sakya Trizin is the traditional title of the head of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Sakya school was founded in 1073 CE, when Khön Könchog Gyalpo, 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. 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
  • Ciring
  • Yuse
  • Yuring
  • Masang Cije
  • Togsa Pawo Tag
  • Tagpo Ochen
  • Yapang Kye
Khön family, the royal generation
Because previous generations subjugated the rakshasas, the family became the Family of Conquerors 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.
NameBiographical dataTenureTibetan name
1.Khon Konchog Gyalpo1034–11021073–1102
2.Rinchen Drag1040–11111103–1110
3.Sachen Kunga Nyingpo1092–11581111–1158
4.Sonam Tsemo1142–11821159–1171
5.Dragpa Gyaltsen1147–12161172–1215
6.Sakya Pandita1182–12511216–1243
6a.regent of Sakya Pandita1243–1264
7.Drogön Chögyal Phagpa1235–12801265–1266
1276–1280
8.Rinchen Gyaltsen1238–12791267–1275
7a.Drogön Chögyal Phagpa 2nd reign1276–1280
9.Dharmapala Rakshita1268–12871281–1287
10.Jamyang Rinchen Gyaltsen1258–13061288–1297
11.Sangpo Pal1262–13241298–1324
12.Namkha Legpa Gyaltsen1305–1343ca. 1324–1342
13.Jamyang Donyö Gyaltsen1310–1344ca. 1342-1344
14.Lama Dampa Sönam Gyaltsen1312–13751344–1347
15.Tawen Lodrö Gyaltsen1332–13641347–1364
16.Tawen Kunga Rinchen1339–1399ca. 1364-1399
17.Lopön Chenpo Gushri Lodrö Gyaltsen1366–14201399–1420
18.Jamyang Namkha Gyaltsen1398–14721421–1441
19.Kunga Wangchuk1418–14621442–1462
20.Gyagar Sherab Gyaltsen1436–14941463–1472
21.Dagchen Lodrö Gyaltsen1444–14951473–1495
22.Kunga Sönam1485–15331496–1533
23.Ngagchang Kunga Rinchen1517–15841534–1584
24.Jamyang Sönam Sangpo1519–16211584–1589
25.Dragpa Lodrö1563–16171589–1617
26.Ngawang Kunga Wangyal1592–16201618–1620
27.Ngawang Kunga Sönam1597–16591620–1659
28.Ngawang Sönam Wangchuk1638–16851659–1685
29.Ngawang Kunga Tashi1656–17111685–1711
30.Sönam Rinchen1705–17411711–1741
31.Kunga Lodrö1729–17831741–1783
32.Wangdu Nyingpo1763–18091783–1806
33.Pema Dudul Wangchuk1792–18531806–1843
34.Dorje Rinchen1819–18671843–1845
35.Tashi Rinchen1824–18651846–1865
36.Kunga Sönam1842–18821866–1882
37.Kunga Nyingpo1850–18991883–1899
38.Dzamling Chegu Wangdu1855–19191901–1915
39.Dragshul Trinle Rinchen1871–19361915–1936
40.Ngawang Thutob Wangdrag1900–19501937–1950
41.Ngawang Kunga Tegchen Palbar *see Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga* 19451951–2017
42.Ratna Vajra Rinpoche* 19742017–2022
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.