Located in Sakya County southwest of Shigatse, Sakya, meaning "Grey Soil" in Tibetan since the soil surrounding it is gray; it is the central monastery of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The seat of the Sakya or Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, it was founded in 1073 CE, by Konchok Gyelpo, originally a Nyingmapa monk of the powerful noble family of the Tsang. Its powerful abbots governed Tibet during the whole of the 13th century after the downfall of the kings until they were eclipsed by the rise of the new Gelukpa sect. They still have many followers in Tibet.
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