Seoul Journal of Korean Studies

Abstract:

In narrative literature, the Silla monk Ŭisang 義湘 (625–702), who studied Huayan under Zhiyan 智嚴 (602–668) and was venerated as the founder of the Hwaŏm school 華嚴宗 in Silla Korea (ca. 300–935), is remembered as a devout practitioner of devotional Buddhism more than as an exegete. Aside from his famous Seal-diagram Symbolizing the Dharma Realm of the One Vehicle of the Avatam . saka-sūtra (Hwaŏm ilsŭng pŏpkye to 華嚴一乘法界圖, T. 1887A), among the Buddhist literature of the Koryŏ (918–1392) period are preserved two vow texts attributed to Ŭisang: “Vow Made at White Flower Enlightenment Site” (Paekhwa toryang parwŏnmun 白花道場發願文) and “Vow on the One Vehicle” (Ilsŭng parwŏnmun 一乘發願文). Can these works be reliably attributed to Ŭisang? And if so, to what extent? Or should they be considered later works imagined by the Hwaŏm monastic community of the Koryŏ period that assert their authority by virtue of their claim to authorship by the Silla monk?