noun
Zen master; high-ranking Zen monk
Honorific title for a respected Zen monk, especially one recognized by the imperial court. The reading ぜんし is an irregular variant.
その禅師は多くの弟子を育てた。
That Zen master trained many disciples.
禅師の教えは今も多くの人に影響を与えている。
The Zen master's teachings still influence many people today.
From Middle Chinese 禪師 (d͡ʑiᴇn ʃiɪ), literally 'meditation master'. The reading ぜんじ is the regular Sino-Japanese on'yomi; ぜんし is an irregular variant.