Tiantong Zongjue

Tiantong Zongjue was a Caodong master who served as abbot of the prestigious Tiantong Monastery before Hongzhi Zhengjue. He contributed to the monastery's reputation as a center of Caodong practice and helped establish the contemplative atmosphere for which Tiantong became famous.

Under Zongjue's leadership, Tiantong Monastery maintained the Caodong tradition's emphasis on silent sitting and the integration of practice with daily life. The monastery's prestige as a Caodong center would continue to grow under his successors, eventually making it the site of Dogen's decisive encounter with Chinese Chan and the consequent birth of Japanese Soto Zen.