Who was Phagspa Lama and how did he serve Kublai Khan?

’Phags-pa (1235–1280) was a prominent Tibetan scholar-monk belonging to the Sa-skya-pa school of Buddhism. He became a highly influential figure at the court of Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Yuan dynasty, serving as his adviser and the head of the Buddhist faith across Mongol dominions.12

’Phags-pa served Kublai Khan in several significant capacities:

• Imperial Preceptor: Kublai Khan appointed him as dishi (imperial preceptor), establishing a formal relationship defined as a personal bond between the emperor as patron and the lama as priest (yon-mchod).123
• Political Theory: Together, they developed the "dual principle," which established the parity of power and dignity between church and state in political matters.1
• Linguistic Contribution: ’Phags-pa invented a new alphabet specifically for the Mongol language.1
• Administration: He helped oversee a government agency established in 1264 to manage Buddhist and Tibetan affairs, allowing Tibetan leaders to maintain a degree of independence while remaining under the Mongol sphere of influence.2