Nine mountain schools

The nine mountain schools (九きゅう山やま; or gusan) were the initial monasteries of the Korean branch of Buddhism called Seon, founded in the Unified Silla period in the 8th or 9th century.

Doui, a student of Zhizang and Baizhang who established the Gaji san school (迦智山さん) at Borimsa.

The initial transmission of Seon into Korea is usually attributed to Beomnang (法ほう朗ろう; fl. 632–646), said to be a student of the Chinese master Daoxin (道信みちのぶ; 580–651). Seon was later popularized especially by Sinhaeng (神かみ行こう; 704–779) in the latter part of the eighth century and by Doui (道義どうぎ; d. 825) at the beginning of the ninth century. From then on, many Koreans studied Chan in China and, upon their return, established their own schools at various mountain monasteries with their leading disciples.

The number of these schools was initially fixed to nine, whence the name derives. Eight of these schools were of the lineage of Mazu Daoyi (馬うま祖そ道一みちかず; 709–788), as they were established through connection with either him or one of his eminent disciples:

1. The Gaji san school (迦智山さん), established at Borimsa (寶林寺ほうりんじ) under the influence of Doui and his grand-student Chejing (體からだ澄きよし; 804–890). Doui studied in China under Zhizang (735-814) and Baizhang (百ひゃく丈たけ; 749–814).
2. The Seongju san school (聖きよし住山すみやま), established by Muyeom (無む染しみ; 800–888) who received his inga from Magu Baozhe (麻谷あさや寶たから徹とおる; b. 720?).
3. The Silsangsan school (實相じっそう山さん), founded by Hongcheok (洪ひろし陟のぼる; fl. 830), who also studied under Zhizang.
4. The Huiyang san school (曦陽山さん), founded by Beomnang and Chiseon Doheon (智さとし詵道憲けん; 824–882), who was taught by a Korean teacher of the Mazu transmission.
5. The Bongnim san school (鳳おおとり林山はやしやま), established by Weongam (圓まどか鑑あきら; 787-869) and his student Simhui (審しん希まれ; fl. 9c). Weongam was a student of Zhangjing Huaihui (章あきら敬けい懷ふところ暉あきら; 748–835).
6. The Dongni san school (桐きり裡うら山さん), established by Hyejeol (慧とし徹とおる; 785–861) who was a student of Zhizang.
7. The Sagul san school (闍崛山さん), established by Beom'il (梵日; 810–889), who studied in China with Yanguan Qian (鹽しお官かん齊ひとし安やす; 750?-842) and Yuesha Weiyan (樂山らくざん惟おもんみ嚴げん).
8. The Saja san school (獅子しし山さん), established by Doyun (道みち允まこと; 797-868), who studied under Nanquan Puyan (南みなみ泉いずみ普ひろし願ねがい; 748–835).

The ninth of these initial schools was the Sumi san (須彌山しゅみせん) school founded by Ieom (利り嚴げん; 869–936), which had developed from the Caodong (曹洞) lineage.