cho-yon

A “priest-patron” relationship is one in which a secular ruler supports the Buddhist monastic hierarchy with gifts of land, wealth, and protection, while Buddhist masters perform rituals on behalf of the ruler and the state. This arrangement defined Tibetan Buddhists’ relationships with rulers, including Mongol Khans or the Manchu emperors. The relationship between the Mongol emperor Qubilai Khan and the Tibetan imperial preceptor Pakpa became emblematic of this system.