祖そ師し

noun

founder of a sect; patriarch

Primarily used in Buddhist contexts for the founding teacher of a particular school or lineage.

• 道どう元げん禅ぜん師じは曹そう洞とう宗しゅうの祖そ師しとされている。

  Zen Master Dōgen is regarded as the founder of the Sōtō school.