Although Chigi was the actual founder of the Tendai sect, there is another theory to regard Ryuju as the founder, Emon Zenji (Master of Zen Buddhism) as the secondary founder and Nangaku Eshi Zenji as the tertiary founder.
天台宗の実質的な開祖は智顗であるが、竜樹を開祖とし、第二祖を慧文禅師、第三祖を南岳慧思禅師とする場合もある。