Koreas Original Seon Temples and their Mountains the

Korea’s Original Seon Temples and their Mountains: the Gusan-Seonmun a Dharma-Talk for the International Seon Center of Dongguk University, Seoul June 28 th, 2014 By Professor David A. Mason Department of Tourism Management, Nam. Seoul University

선불교 禪 Seon Bulgyo Korean Zen Buddhism Korean Ch’an or Meditational Buddhism Master-Disciple Lineage is highly important

Chinese Ch’an or Meditational Buddhism Sakyanmuni Buddha (500 BCE) Maha-Kashyapa as 1 st Indian Patriarch at the “Flower Sermon” 26 more Indian Patriarchs (claimed; no evidence) Bodhidharma as 28 th Indian Patriarch and then 1 st Chinese Patriarch

Bodhidharma Founder of Chinese Ch’an

Chinese Ch’an Bodhidharma as 1 st Chinese Patriarch Huìkě 慧可 487 -593 as 2 nd Patriarch

Chinese Ch’an or Meditational Buddhism, or Seon Bodhidharma as 1 st Chinese Patriarch Huìkě 慧可 487 -593 as 2 nd Patriarch 3. Sēngcàn, 4. Dàoxìn, 5. Hóngrěn Huìnéng 慧能 638 -713 as 6 th Patriarch

Huìnéng 慧能 638 -713 the Sixth Patriarch of Ch’an

Yukjo Huìnéng 六祖 慧能 638 -713 the Sixth Patriarch of Ch’an First to leave a Ch’an scripture, the “Platform Sutra” Supremely important transmitter of Chan / Seon His skull supposedly enshrined in Jiri-san Ssanggye-sa The mountain that he taught at is “Jogye-san” in Korean

Chinese Ch’an or Meditational Buddhism Huìnéng 慧能 (638 -713) as 6 th Patriarch Nányuè Huáiràng 南嶽懐譲 677– 744 Mǎzŭ Dàoyī 馬祖道一 Ma-tsu Kiangsi Tao-yi 709– 788 early Tang Dynasty

Mǎzŭ Dàoyī 馬祖道一 Ma-tsu Kiangsi Tao-yi effectively the "8 th Patriarch" His teaching style: "strange words and extraordinary actions”. Many Disciples, diverse lineage including Zhizang 735 -814, Baizhang 百丈 749 -814 and Línjì Yìxuán 臨濟義玄 Lin-chi I-hsüan, Rinzai; died 866 CE

구산선문 the Gusan-Seonmun Korea’s 9 Original Zen Temples at the Seonjong Gusan 9 Holy Zen-sect Mountains

Jiri-san Shilsang-sa North Jeolla Province, Namwon City Gaji-san Borim-sa South Jeolla Province, Jangheung County Sagul-san Gulsan-saji Gangwon Province, Gangneung City Dongri-san Tae-an-sa South Jeolla Province, Gokseong County Seongju-san Seongju-saji South Chungcheong Province, Boryeong City Saja-san Heungnyeong-saji -- now Beobheung-sa Jeokmyeol-bogung site; Gangwon Province, Yeongwol County Huiyang-san Bongam-sa North Gyeongsang Province, Mungyeong City Bongrim-san Bongrim-saji South Gyeongsang Province, Changwon City Sumi-san Gwangjo-saji Hwanghae Province (DPRK), Haeju City

the Gusan-Seonmun 구산선문 Korea’s 9 Original Zen Temples One is in North Korea, 8 in the Republic of Korea. 3 are in Jeolla Provinces (Honam Region), 2 are in Gyeongsang Provinces (Yeongdong Region), 2 are in Gangwon Province (1 east & 1 west) and 1 is on west coast of the Chungcheong Region. 5 are West of the Baekdu-daegan Range, 4 are East Only stonework ruins such as pagodas are at Bongrim-san Bongrim-saji, Seongju-san Seongju-saji, Sagul-san Gulsan-saji & Sumi-san Gwangjo-saji. The other sites still host flourishing monasteries where Seon-Bulgyo is enthusiastically taught and practiced by the Jogye Order.

the Gusan-Seonmun Korea’s 9 Original Zen Sects The initial transmission of Seon into Korea is usually attributed to Master Beomnang (法朗; fl. 632 -646), said to be a student of the Chinese master Daoxin (道信; 580 -651, the 4 th Ch’an Patriarch). This was not very successful, however, and Beomnang’s teachings failed to flourish after his death (probably due to lack of royal / aristocratic support), although they may have influenced the philosophy of Great Master Wonhyo-daesa.

the Gusan-Seonmun Korea’s 9 Original Zen Sects Seon-Bulgyo was later popularized in the latter part of the 8 th Century and the early 9 th Century, by Masters Sinhaeng (神行; 704 -779) and then Do-ui (道義; d. 825). Doui-josa is regarded as its initial founder by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the unified national sect that inherited and perpetuated the legacies of the Gusan-Seonmun. Recorded legend says that at a meeting of Doui's disciples and other Seon-sect leaders in 826 (one year after Doui's passing) they first proclaimed their unity and first adopted the term Gusan. Seonmun for their school.

the Gusan-Seonmun Korea’s 9 Original Zen Sects Eight of these nine sects were of the lineage of Great Chan Master Mazu Daoyi ("8 th Patriarch"), as they were established by monks who attained their inka certification-of-enlightenment directly from one of his eminent disciples or grand-disciples.

Gaji-san Borim-sa South Jeolla Province, Jangheung County, Yuji-myeon District 전남 장흥군 유치면의 가지산문 (迦智山 門), 보림사 The Gaji-san school was established at Borim-sa under the influence of Doui and his grand-student Chejing (體澄; 804 -890). Doui studied in China under Zhizang (735 -814) and Baizhang (百丈; 749 -814).

Gaji-san Borim-sa

Gaji-san Borim-sa

Dongri-san Tae-an-sa South Jeolla Province, Gokseong County / Town, SE Jiri-san area 전남 곡성군 곡성면의 동리산문 (桐裡山 門), 대안사 The Dongni-san school was founded by Hyejeol (慧徹; 785 -861) who was a student of Zhizang (735 -814).

Dongri-san Tae-an-sa

Bongrim-san Bongrim-saji South Gyeongsang Province, Changwon City, Bongrim-dong District 경남 창원시 봉림동의 봉림산문 (鳳林山門), 봉림사 The Bongnim-san school was established by Weongam (圓鑑; 787 -869) and his student Simhui (審希; fl. 9 c). Weongam was a student of Zhangjing Huaihui (章敬懷暉; 748 -835).

Bongrim-san Bongrim-saji

Modern “Bongrim-sa”

Jiri-san Shilsang-sa North Jeolla Province, Namwon City, Sannae-myeon District 전북 남원군 산내면의 실상산문 (實相山 門), 실상사 The Silsang-san school was founded by Master Hongcheok (洪陟; fl. 830), who studied under Zhizang (735 -814).

Jiri-san Shilsang-sa

Saja-san Heungnyeong-saji (now Beobheung-sa, a Jeokmyeol-bogung site) Gangwon Province, Yeongwol County 강원도 영월군 영주면의 사자산문 (獅子山門 ), 흥령사 The Saja-san school was established by Doyun (道允; 797 -868), student of Nanquan Puyan (南泉普願; 748 -835).

Saja-san Beopheung-sa 獅子山 法興寺 643

Beopheung-sa Jeokmyeol-bogung 法興寺 寂滅寶宮

Saja-san Beopheung-sa Jeokmyeol-bogung

Seongju-san Seongju-saji South Chungcheong Province, Boryeong City, Seongju-myeon District 충남 보령시 성주면의 성주산문 (聖住山門), 성주사 The Seongju-san school was established by Muju Muyeom (無染; 800 -888, a. k. a. Nanghye) who received his inga from Magu Baozhe ( 麻谷寶徹), a disciple of Mazu Daoyi.

Seongju-saji Temple-Site, Boryeong City

Seongju-saji Temple-Site, Boryeong City

Seongju-saji Temple-Site, Boryeong City

Seongju-saji Temple-Site, Boryeong City

Seongju-saji Temple-Site, Boryeong City

Nanghye-hwasang Bi-myeong 朗慧和尙碑銘 Memorial Stele to Outstanding Master Muju Muyeom of Seongju-sa, dated to 890, National Treasure #8

Nanghye-hwasang Bi-myeong 朗慧和尙碑銘 Memorial Stele to Outstanding Master Muju Muyeom of Seongju-sa, dated to 890, National Treasure #8

Nanghye-hwasang Bi-myeong 朗慧和尙碑銘 Memorial Stele to Outstanding Master Muju Muyeom of Seongju-sa, dated to 890, National Treasure #8

Nanghye-hwasang Bi-myeong 朗慧和尙碑銘 Memorial Stele to Outstanding Master Muju Muyeom of Seongju-sa, dated to 890, National Treasure #8

That great stele was written by Go-un Choi Chi-won, who remains one of the world’s favorite figures of all Korea’s cultural history, displaying so many virtues & talents, and symbolizing many key themes. He exemplifies the spirit of the Shilla Kingdom’s waning days, and the incipient harmony among Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism – becoming a general "culture hero" of Korean tradition.

Sagul-san Gulsan-saji Gangwon Province, Gangneung City, Gujeong-myeon District 강원도 강릉시 구정면의 사굴산문 (捨堀山門 ), 굴산사 The Sagul-san school was established by Beom-il (梵日; 810 -889), who studied in China with Yanguan Qian (鹽官齊安; 750842) and Yueshan Weiyan (樂山惟嚴).

Sagul-san Gulsan-saji

Sagul-san Gulsan-saji

Sagul-san Gulsan-saji

Sagul-san Gulsan-saji

Huiyang-san Bongam-sa North Gyeongsang Province, Mungyeong City, Ga-eun-myeon District 경북 문경시 가은면의 희양산문 (曦陽山門), 봉암사 The Huiyang-san school was founded by Beomnang and also by Chiseon Doheon (智 詵道憲; 824 -882), who was taught by a Korean teacher of the Mazu transmission.

Mungyeong County Heuiyang-san Bong-am-sa

Mungyeong County’s Heuiyang-san 曦陽山 Sunshine-Yang Mountain

Mungyeong County Heuiyang-san Bong-am-sa

Bongam-sa Gyegok

Site of the epochal 1954 Bongam-sa Gyeolsa 鳳巖寺 結社 Assembly

grand 9 th-Century 3 -story Pagoda Treasure #169, Late Unified Shilla Era Bongam-sa Samcheung Seoktap

Bong-am-sa Jijeung-dae-sa Jeokjo-tapbi biseok Monument 智證大師 寂照塔碑 – dated to 924 also written by Go-un Choi Chi-won! National Treasure #315

Sumi-san Gwangjo-saji Hwanghae Province (DPRK), Haeju City, Geumsan-myeon District 황해도 해주군 금산면의 수미산문 (須彌山門 ), 광조사 The Sumi-san school was founded by I-eom (利嚴; 869 -936), who studied the Caodong lineage. No photos available.

MONASTIC ORDERS Jogye Order 조계종 Taego Order 태고종 Cheontae Order 천태종 the most important orders, sects or schools of Korean Buddhism

Seeking Harmony Between and Unification of Buddhist Schools

An (almost) Unified National Buddhism Based on a unified Seon Bulgyo, but incorporating Hwaeom doctrines, with smaller elements of Cheontae, Pure Land, Devotional and Tantric schools, with Bodhisattva sects and folklore, Shamanic, Confucian & Daoist aspects.

Concluding Note: Further Information: www. san-shin. org