Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s1.t6.3

v1.c7.s1.t6.3

Since the foundation, sa skya adopted family hereditary system. In the late Yuan Dynasty (1324 CE), the sect split into four bla brangs, namely, gzhi thog, rin chen sgang, lha khang and dus mchod that had their own people, land and religious power. In the middle of Ming Dynasty, the hereditary system of gzhi thog, rin chen sgang, lha khang was ceased and dus mchod held the *dharmaraja* power of Sa skya. Subsequently, dus mchod split into phun tshogs and sgrol ma whose immediate family members succeeded as *dharmaraja* in turn with the religious power of sa skya in name only. Actually, they were granted limited appeal and power.