宗祖
Meanings
1
sect founder; founder of a religious denomination
Refers specifically to the person who established a particular Buddhist sect or, by extension, the founder of any religious school or denomination.
Hōnen is regarded as the founder of the Jōdo sect.
Study the teachings of each sect's founder.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉を宗祖とするto regard someone as the founder of the sect
This temple regards Saichō as its founder.
- 宗祖の教えを守るto uphold the founder's teachings
The believers continue to uphold the founder's teachings.
- 宗祖を祀るto enshrine the sect's founder
This shrine enshrines the sect's founder.