[1] His father belonged to the Khon family, members of which were hereditary abbot-rulers of the Sakya Monastery in Tsang in western Tibet.
Rinchen Gyaltsen's elder half-brother Phagpa enjoyed a close relationship with Kublai Khan and was appointed to the title Imperial Preceptor (Dishi) in 1270.
However, when his brother Chakna Dorje died in 1267, this led to serious unrest as the important Drigung Monastery tried to push back the position of Sakya.
As imperial preceptor he resided in the palace compound Metog Rawa (Flowery Enclosure), as his brother had done.
[5] During his tenure the worldly affairs of Tibet were handled by a succession of administrators in Sakya, called dpon-chen (ponchen).