Drogön Chögyal Phagpa

Drogön Chögyal Phagpa was a 13th-century Sakya lama who served the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan as Imperial Preceptor and devised the ’Phags-pa script.

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Kublai Khan: Kublai Khan was a Mongol ruler who founded China’s Yuan dynasty and ruled as Great Khan. Kublai appointed Phagpa Imperial Preceptor and commissioned a script for the empire.
'Phags-pa script: The ’Phags-pa script is an alphabetic writing system devised in the 13th century for use across the Mongol Empire. Phagpa devised it at Kublai Khan’s request as an imperial script.
Sakya-Mongol alliance: The Sakya-Mongol alliance was a political and religious relationship linking Tibetan Sakya leaders with Mongol rulers. Phagpa’s court service strengthened the alliance into a framework for governing Tibet.
Tibetan script: Tibetan script is an Indic-derived writing system used to write Tibetan and other languages. Phagpa adapted features of Tibetan writing in designing his imperial script.
Sakya Pandita: Sakya Pandita was a Tibetan Buddhist scholar and leader of the Sakya school. Phagpa’s uncle established the Sakya-Mongol relationship that shaped his career.
Imperial Preceptor: An Imperial Preceptor was a high religious office serving the Mongol emperor and the empire. Phagpa held this office, which gave him authority at Kublai’s court.
Sakya: Sakya is a school of Tibetan Buddhism founded in the 11th century. Phagpa’s political prominence extended the influence of his Buddhist school.
Brahmic scripts: Brahmic scripts are writing systems descended from the ancient Indian Brahmi script. Tibetan writing belongs to this family, whose letter structures informed ’Phags-pa.
Chögyal Phagpa's brother Chagna Dorje: Chagna Dorje was a member of the Sakya family and a brother of Phagpa. He helped administer Sakya rule in Tibet while Phagpa served Kublai.
Yuan dynasty: The Yuan dynasty was the Mongol-led dynasty that ruled China from 1271 to 1368. Phagpa’s script and court office were projects of Kublai’s Yuan-era empire.