Phagsiba is the fifth generation founder of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. He is another great figure in Tibetan history after Songtsen Gampo. At the same time, he also occupies an important role in the history of the Yuan Dynasty. Because of his status, he was greatly appreciated and respected by Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, and had a very close relationship with Kublai Khan. This close relationship prompted Pasiba to make immeasurable contributions to the religious and cultural exchanges between Tibetans, Mongolians, and Han nationalities in the Yuan Dynasty, and directly contributed to his completion of Tibet's submission to the Mongolian Khanate and its integration into the territory of the motherland. Great cause.
Phagsiba is the fifth generation founder of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. He is another great figure in Tibetan history after Songtsen Gampo. At the same time, he also occupies an important role in the history of the Yuan Dynasty. Because of his status, he was highly appreciated and respected by Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, and had a very close relationship with Kublai Khan. This close relationship prompted Pasiba to make immeasurable contributions to the religious and cultural exchanges between Tibetans, Mongolians, and Han nationalities in the Yuan Dynasty, and directly contributed to his completion of Tibet's submission to the Mongolian Khanate and its integration into the territory of the motherland. Great cause.
Phaspa was able to gain the appreciation of Kublai Khan and form an alliance with him through a gradual process. In 1260, after Kublai Khan ascended the throne, he sealed Phaspa, the leader of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. As "National Preceptor, he was awarded the Jade Seal, appointed as the Dharma Master of the Central Plains, and unified the world's religions. Then under the auspices of Phagpa, Kublai Khan received the Hevajra initiation of Tibetan Buddhism and converted to Tibetan Buddhism. Under his leadership, Queens, concubines, princes, princesses, ministers, and many Mongolian herdsmen all converted to Tibetan Buddhism. In 1270, Kublai Khan promoted Phaspa's title from "National Master" to "Emperor Master", and his status was so high. As you can imagine;
In the early 13th century, with the expansion of Mongolian power, the Mongolian people continued to come into contact with foreign religions. In order to unify the country and maintain their rule, they vigorously promoted the policy of supporting religions from the time of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan himself believed in shamanism, but he did not force the conquered peoples to convert, but allowed Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, etc. to coexist, and allowed his own people and other conquered peoples to freely practice various religions?
Liu Bingzhong, the chief advisor and secretary of Kublai Khan's palace, would naturally use Buddhism to influence Kublai Khan from time to time. Although Mainland Buddhism and Tubo Tibetan Buddhism influenced Kublai Khan and others at the same time, the Mongol Khan finally chose. Tibetan Buddhism. This is because the Mongolians and the Tubo people are both nomadic economies, with little cultural difference, and their original religious beliefs are basically the same. The indigenous Tibetan religion is actually a type of shamanism. Central Plains Buddhism, after the mutual absorption and integration of the highly developed Chinese culture, was far less acceptable to the Mongols than Tibetan Buddhism.
This may be because Kublai Khan appreciated and reused Phagpa, and respected and believed in Tibetan Buddhism. One of the reasons for spreading Buddhism. Kublai Khan’s appreciation of Phagpa was largely due to political needs. All rulers in Chinese history seemed to have direct political reasons for promoting Buddhism, “Thinking big. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty who "has something to do for the world", naturally attached great importance to the political function of religion. "Kublai Khan was influenced by his grandfather Genghis Khan since he was a child, and he never regarded religion and politics as two unrelated and isolated entities.
In this document, it is very clearly recorded that Kublai Khan’s purpose of admiring Tibetan Buddhism and reusing Phagpa was mainly to “soften his people because of their customs”, and to achieve smooth and prosperous life. Effectively ruling Tibet. At that time, establishing a stable social order and strong political relations in Tibet was part of the Mongolian rulers' strategic plan to unify the entire China. In view of the situation in the Tubo region, Kublai Khan adopted a religion. The strategy of using power to help rule.