The
Imperial Preceptor, or
Dishi (, lit. "Teacher of the Emperor") was a high
title and powerful post created by
Kublai Khan, founder of the
Yuan dynasty. It was established as part of
Mongol patronage of
Tibetan Buddhism and
Yuan administrive rule of Tibet. The title was originally created as the
State Preceptor or
Guoshi (, lit. "Teacher of the State") in 1260, the first year of Kublai Khan's enthronement. In that year he appointed the
Sakya lama
Drogön Chögyal Phagpa to this post and soon placed him in charge of all Buddhist clergy. In 1264, He founded the
Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs and appointed Phagpa as the first director of this important new agency. The lama was offered nominal rule over all Tibet and also supervised Mongol relations with the Buddhist clergy. In 1270, Phagpa became Imperial Preceptor (Dishi) when the title was renamed. As Imperial Preceptor, he was authorized to issue letters and proclamations to the temples and institutions of Tibet, and he advised the Emperor regarding official appointments in Tibet. Kublai Khan dispatched the lama to Tibet in 1264 to help persuade his people to accept Mongol rule. A member of the Sakya sect, acting as Imperial Preceptor and residing in
China, supervised the Buddhist clergy throughout the empire. The Mongols also selected a Tibetan official titled
dpon-chen to live in and administer Tibet. This pattern of religio-political relations prevailed for the remainder of the Yuan period. After the overthrow of the Mongol Yuan dynasty by the Chinese
Ming dynasty, Yuan titles such as Imperial Preceptor were revoked, replaced with titles of lesser status.