Kyunyeo
Gyunyeo 균여 | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | Byeon Gyunyeo 923 (8th days, 8th months in lunar) |
Died | 973 (aged about 50/1) (6th months in lunar) |
Religion | Buddhism |
Parents |
|
Notable work(s) | Songs of the Ten Vows Samantabhara |
Profession | Goryeo Buddhist monk |
Senior posting | |
Teacher | Sikhyeon Tanmun |
Period in office | 937–973? |
Profession | Goryeo Buddhist monk |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 균여 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Gyunyeo |
McCune–Reischauer | Kyun'yŏ |
Birth name | |
Hangul | 변균여 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Byeon Gyun-yeo |
McCune–Reischauer | Pyŏn Kyun-yŏ |
Gyunyeo or Kyun Yeo (Korean: 균여; Hanja:
Gyunyeo played an important role in the spread of the Hwaeom (Korean Huayan) school of Buddhism.[1]
Overview
[edit]Gyunyeo was born in a village named Dundaeyeopchon in the northern region of Hwangju, Goryeo. Gyunyeo's mother was a diviner and according to a traditional story, Gyunyeo had an unattractive appearance and was abandoned by his parents, but then two crows covered him with their wings, prompting his parents to reconsider. By the age of 7 he already enjoyed reading verse. From a young age, he was immersed in the teachings of the Huayan sutras, particularly the Avatamsaka Sutra. At the age of 15, he studied under the monk Sikhyeon Hwasang (識賢
Gyunyeo made efforts to popularize Buddhism, composing the hymn "Bohyeon Shipwonga" (Songs of the Ten Vows Samantabhara) to convey Buddhist teachings in an accessible way. He worked towards unifying different Buddhist factions and traveled the country preaching Buddhism.
In 958 (King Gwangjong's 9th year), he held the position of "sigwan" (
Gyunyeo efforts united the Korean Huayan school, which had split into the Southern and Northern branches. Gyunyeo's teachings emphasized integration and harmonization of these differing viewpoints. Gyunyeo's teachings focused on a syncretic approach that included elements of indigenous beliefs and practical faith. His philosophy of "integrating nature and form (성상융회) aimed to harmonize the conceptual and phenomenal aspects of reality as well as to promote the unity of other dualities like the sacred and the mundane, as well as male and female.
Gyunyeo passed away in 973 CE. His main works include Suhyeonbanggyegi (
The Songs of the Ten Vows Samantabhara (Bohyeon Shipjongwonwangga
Gyunyeo faced opposition from figures like Uicheon, who excluded Gyunyeo's writings from certain records due to their differing philosophical views. However, Gyunyeo's teachings regained prominence during the later spread of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and his writings were eventually included in the Goryeo Tripitaka.
In popular culture
[edit]- Portrayed by Jung Seung-ho in the 2002–2003 KBS1 TV series The Dawn of the Empire.
References
[edit]- ^ Korea and Globalization: Politics, Economics and Culture. By Amadu Sesay, James B. Lewis
Further references
[edit]- Kyunyo-Jon: The Life, Times and Songs of a Tenth Century Korean Monk (University of Sydney East Asian Series)
- Lee, Peter H., 1961, "The Importance of the Kyunyŏ Chŏn (1075) in Korean Buddhism and Literature-Bhadra-Cari-Pranidhạna in Tenth Century Korea," Journal of the American Oriental Society 81 (4):409–414, JSTOR 595687
External links
[edit]- Gyunyeo on the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).