Rare literary term for the origin or source of something, often in philosophical or historical contexts.
The origin of this thought lies in ancient Greece.
virtuous ancestor
Rare term for a revered ancestor, typically in Confucian or classical contexts.
Revering one's virtuous ancestors is one of the important teachings of Confucianism.
ancestral shrine; mausoleum
master; teacher
leading figure; authority; foundation
Rare standalone kanji form; mostly encountered in compounds or classical contexts.
The kanji 宗 originally meant 'ancestral temple' or 'clan,' and by extension came to denote 'origin' or 'founder.' The reading そう is the on'yomi.