Koso (a founder) was the Tendai Daishi Chigi (538 - 597) from the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui Dynasty (China), and the founder of a religious sect was the Chisho Daishi Enchin (child of the niece of Kukai Kobo Daishi (a posthumous title of the priest Kukai)) (814 - 891), who had the title of fifth Tendai-zasu (head priest of the Tendai sect) during the Heian period.
高祖は南北朝時代(中国)から隋の時代の天台大師智顗（538年～597年）、宗祖は平安時代の第5代天台座主の智証大師円珍（814年～891年）（弘法大師空海の姪の子）。