祖师

祖師
zǔshī
noun #78,042

Meanings

  1. 1 founder (of a craft, school, religious sect, or martial art)
  2. 2 patriarch / progenitor

Examples

Dámó shì Chánzōng de zǔshī.
Bodhidharma is the founder of the Chan (Zen) school.
Lǔ Bān bèi zūn wéi mùjiang de zǔshī.
Lu Ban is honored as the patriarch of carpenters.

Tips

usage
Distinguish from 师祖: 祖师 is the historical founder of an entire school/craft (Bodhidharma for Chan, Lu Ban for carpenters). 师祖 is your personal lineage — your teacher's teacher.

In Pop Culture

祖师 Módào Zǔshī
The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's hit xianxia novel adapted into the donghua, live-action 'The Untamed', and manhua. Title literally 'Patriarch of the Demonic Path'.

Stroke Order

shī