Guanding

thumb|Traditional Chinese depiction of Guanding

Guanding (, 561–632 CE), also known as Shi Guanding (), was a Chinese Buddhist monk and exegete during the Sui dynasty (581–618). Guanding is traditionally recognized as the principal disciple and successor of Zhiyi (538–597), the eminent founder of the Tiantai school. He is also traditionally regarded as the fourth patriarch of the Tiantai tradition. Guanding played a decisive role in the preservation, organization, and transmission of Zhiyi's teachings, notably by ensuring that many of his master's oral discourses were systematically recorded and edited into written form. His efforts were instrumental in shaping the doctrinal and institutional legacy of Tiantai Buddhism.