Tradition: Sakya Founders

Khon Konchog Gyalpo founded the Sakya School in 1073 with the construction of the first temple at a place called 'sa kya' (white earth), Tsang, Tibet.

The 'Five Holy Superior Ones' (Tibetan: je tsun gong ma nga) are generally credited as a group with the early shaping of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism: Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, Sonam Tsemo, Tragpa Gyaltsen, Sakya Pandita and Chogyal Pagpa. (See Sakya lineage list).