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Uicheon

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Uicheon
Daegakguksa
('National Preceptor Grand Enlightenment')
Portrait of Uicheon in Seonamsa, 48-1, Jukhak-ri, Seungju-eup, Suncheon-si, South Jeolla Province
BornWang Hu
1055
Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Died1101 (age 46)
Chongji Temple (총지사摠持寺てら), Gaegyeong, Goryeo
Burial
Yeongtong Temple (영통사靈れい通どおり寺てら), Kaesong
HouseHouse of Wang
FatherMunjong of Goryeo
MotherQueen Inye of the Incheon Yi clan
ReligionBuddhism
Korean name
Hangul
왕후 or 왕석후
Hanja
王おう煦 or 王おう釋しゃく煦
Revised RomanizationWang Hu or Wang Seokhu
McCune–ReischauerWang Hu or Wang Sŏkhu
Art name
Hangul
우세
Hanja
祐ゆう世よ
Revised RomanizationUse
McCune–ReischauerUse
Courtesy name
Hangul
의천
Hanja
義ぎ天てん
Revised RomanizationUicheon
McCune–ReischauerŬich'ŏn
Posthumous name
Hangul
대각국사
Hanja
大覺だいかく國師こくし
Revised RomanizationDaegakguksa
McCune–ReischauerTaegakkuksa

Uicheon (28 September 1055 – 5 October 1101) was a Korean Royal Prince and influential Korean Buddhist scholar-monk during the Goryeo period (918–1392). He was the fourth son of King Munjong (1046–1083) and Queen Inye from the Gyeongwon Yi clan and the younger brother of Sunjong, Seonjong, and Sukjong.[1][2]

Overview

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At age 11, Uicheon volunteered to become a Buddhist monk.[3] In 1065, he studied at the Yeongtong Temple (영통사; 靈れい通どおり寺てら) under Buddhist monk Nanwon (난원; 爛ただれ圓えん) who was his maternal relative and studied the Buddhist and Confucian canons.[2] Uicheon displayed exceptional talents from a young age, and he dedicated himself to the extensive study of the Chinese Buddhist canon, the works of the various East Asian Buddhist schools, along with the Chinese classics.

Uicheon lived at Ryongtongsa in Kaesong for much of his life and was buried there, where his tomb can be found. He was a prolific author, scholar and Buddhist teacher who specialized in Huayan studies and the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, having studied in China with Huayan masters.[4] He is also known for introducing the works of the Cheontae school to Korean Buddhism.[5] He was also known by the title Daegak Guksa (大覺だいかく國師こくし, "State Preceptor Great Awakening"[a]).

Uicheon's reputation eventually reached China, and he eventually was patronized by Chinese Emperor Zhezong. Uicheon and his party eventually visited the Song Dynasty capital and met with Emperor Zhezong. Subsequently, they visited several prominent monasteries such as Jingyuan Monastery (淨きよし源げん寺てら) and Yanglian Monastery (懹璉寺てら), where they engaged in discussions with over 50 eminent monks. Uicheon made many connections with Chinese masters during this time, particularly with scholars of Huayan sect such as Jinshui Jingyuan (靜せい源げん, 1011–1088) with whom he continued to exchange letters after returning to Korea. Jingyuan also sent Uicheon Huayan texts.[4]

Uicheon also visited the Liao dynasty, visiting various key sites and meeting with Liao monks. He even became a priest for Emperor Daozong of Liao before returning to Korea.

Back in Korea, Uicheon's reputation had continued to grow and he was warmly welcomed. King Seonjong recognized the importance of reviving Buddhism and invited Uicheon to assume the position of head monk at Heungwang Temple. He established a repository for the scriptures at Heungwang Temple and also collected scriptures from China and Japan. He published the "Collection of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra" (화엄소초), which consisted of more than 4,740 volumes.

From 1073 to 1090, Uicheon collected numerous Buddhist commentaries from Korea, China, the Khitan Empire and Japan, which were published as the "Goryeo Catalog of Sutras" (or "Goryeo Supplement to the Canon").[6]

In his later life, Uicheon continued his long distance engagement with Song Dynasty scholars while also teaching Korean disciples. His legacy includes compilations such as "New Compilation of the Teachings of the Seon Sect" (신편제종교장총록), and "Songs and Trees of the Stone Garden" (석원사림), among others.

Works

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  • Sinpyeonjejonggyojangchongnok vol. 3 (신편제종교장총록 3권)
  • Sinjipwonjongmullyu vol. 22 (신집원종문류; 新しん集しゅう圓えん宗むね文ぶん類るい 22권)
  • Seokwonsarim vol. 250 (석원사림; 釋しゃく苑えん詞し林りん 250권)
  • Daegakguksamunjib vol. 23 of deeds and poems (대각국사문집; 大覺だいかく國師こくし文集ぶんしゅう 23권 행적과 시 문집)
  • Daegakguksawoejip vol. 13 (대각국사외집; 大覺だいかく國師こくし外がい集しゅう 13권)
  • Ganjeongseongyusiknondangwa vol. 3 (간정성유식론단과; 刊かん定てい成なり唯識ゆいしき論ろん單科たんか 3권)
  • Cheontaesagyouiju vol. 3 (천태사교의주; 天台てんだい四よん敎きょう儀ぎ註 3권)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Guksa was his title ('National Preceptor'), while Daegak was his posthumous Dharma name, meaning "Grand Enlightenment".

References

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  1. ^ Jae-eun Kang (2006). The Land of Scholars: Two Thousand Years of Korean Confucianism. Homa & Sekey Books. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-931907-37-8.
  2. ^ a b "의천". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  3. ^ Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (한국민족문화대백과사전), entry for 의천.
  4. ^ a b McBride II, Richard D. (9 February 2012), Uichon and the Golden Age of Koryo Buddhism - Nam Center for Korean Studies Colloquium Series 1/12/2011, retrieved 14 August 2023
  5. ^ Buswell, Robert Jr; Lopez, Donald S. Jr., eds. (2013). Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. pp. 912–913. ISBN 9780691157863.
  6. ^ Sang-jin Park (18 September 2014). Under the Microscope: The Secrets of the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-4438-6732-0.
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