Chöpon
/ˈtʃɜː.pɒn/noun
A ritual master or officiant in Tibetan Buddhist practice.
Did you know?Chöpon is a Tibetan compound traditionally written ཆོས་དཔོན་, literally “religion-master” or “master of the Dharma,” and refers to a specialist who prepares and leads ritual ceremonies.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
dharma
“Sacred law, religious teaching, or the order that sustains the world; the conceptual source translated by Tibetan chos.”
Old Tibetan
Tibetan
chos
“Religion, Buddhist teaching, or Dharma; a Tibetan translation term rather than a direct sound-change descendant of Sanskrit dharma.”
Old Tibetan
Tibetan
dpon
“Master, leader, or person in charge.”
Medieval Tibetan
Tibetan
chos dpon
“A master responsible for religious or ritual matters.”
Modern English
English
chöpon
“A Tibetan Buddhist ritual master or officiant, used as a loanword in works on Tibetan religion and ritual.”