User:Bertport/Priest Patron

The Priest-Patron or cho-yon concept signifies a flexible, interdependent relationship of mutual influence between Tibetan religious leaders and their military or political counterparts. This style of relationship began with Sakya Pandita and the Mongol prince Kadan in the mid-13th century, and was conceptually developed by Sakya Pandita's successor Drogön Chögyal Phagpa at the court of Kublai Khan, founder of the Yuan Dynasty.

Around 1254, Phagpa initiated Kublai into Buddhism, and Kublai accepted Phagpa as his guru. The balance of power between the two was symbolically expressed in their seating arrangements. The teacher was to have the higher seat when teaching and only a few people were present. The Khan took the higher seat at large assemblies of lords. The Khan would not give orders on Tibetan affairs without the advice of the teacher, but on other affairs, he need not consult the teacher.