Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Atisha, the Bengali Buddhist scholar and abbot, arrives in Tibet. With his disciple Dromtönpa
(1004-64) he is credited with founding the Kadampa, the first distinctive Tibetan Buddhist
School.
1073
The Khon family, which traces its lineage from the nobility of the Yarlung dynasty, founds the
Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. The family remains the hereditary head of Sakya tradition to
this day.
1110-1193
The first Karmapa introduces the concept of reincarnation, which eventually spreads to other
schools of Tibetan Buddhism and to the institution of the Dalai Lamas.
1201
Sakya Pandita (1182-1251) travels to India, studying under Indian gurus. He becomes a great reli-
gious and cultural figure, creating a Tibetan literary tradition inspired by Sanskrit poetry.
1240
The grandson of Genghis Khan, Godan Khan, invades central Tibet with 30,000 troops, ransack-
ing the monastery of Reting.
1249
Sakya Pandita becomes the spiritual advisor to Godon Khan and converts the Mongols to
Buddhism. Godon invests Sakya Pandita as the secular ruler of Tibet.
1260
Kublai Khan appoints Phagpa as an imperial preceptor. This ushers in what the Tibetans call the
priest-patron relationship between Mongol Khans, later Chinese emperors and Tibetan lamas.
1268
The first census of central Tibet counts some 40,000 households. Basic taxation and a new ad-
ministrative system is established in Tibet.
