Definition

1. Noun:
   • Patriarch of a school or sect: The founding or most revered master of a specific school of thought, martial art, or religious sect, particularly in Buddhism or traditional disciplines.
   • Grandmaster: The highest-ranking and original master, from whom a lineage or tradition originates.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy được tôn làm sư tổ của môn phái võ này. (He is revered as the patriarch of this martial arts school.)
  • Các đệ tử thờ cúng sư tổ trong điện chính. (The disciples worship the grandmaster in the main hall.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical or reverential contexts to denote the ultimate source of a tradition's knowledge and authority.
• It implies a deep respect and is often used posthumously for a founder.

Variants and Related Words

• Tổ sư (n): A synonym with the same meaning, often used interchangeably.
  • Tổ sư của ngành điêu khắc. (The founding master of the sculpting craft.)

Synonyms

• Founding master: The original creator of a tradition.
• Grandmaster: The highest authority in a skill or art.
• Patriarch: A founding father, especially of a religious or philosophical group.

Related Idioms

• Tôn sư trọng đạo: (Respect the teacher, honor the doctrine.) This idiom underscores the cultural importance of revering masters and founders, including the .
  • Truyền thống "tôn sư trọng đạo" bắt đầu từ việc kính trọng vị sư tổ. (The tradition of "respecting the teacher and honoring the doctrine" begins with venerating the patriarch.)