Won-hyo
Intro
Won-hyo (617-686 CE) was the noted Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism into the Silla Dynasty in 686 CE. Won-Hyo, born in northern Kyongsang Province, was said to be wise from birth. As legend has it, he was born in a forest in Chestnut Valley under a sal tree. The sal tree is significant, as a reference to it is usually only found in the legends of very revered figures.History
Won-hyo's official name, given to him at birth, was Sol Se-dang. He derived the pen name Won-hyo (meaning dawn) from his nickname "Sedak," which had the same meaning. He assumed this pen name in later years after he had become more accomplished as a Buddhist philosopher and poet. In the past, Koreans were identified by many names. Each person had a nickname as well as an official name. A person of intellectual or artistic talents might also be given a pen name. Monks and apprentices were often given yet another name by their masters.Won-hyo enters priesthood
Won-hyo began his career at the age of 20 when he decided to enter the Buddhist priesthood and converted his own home into a temple. However, Buddhism was not a popular religion in Silla at that time. Although this religion had been introduced into the kingdom of Koguryo in 372 CE and Paekche in 384 CE, the general population of Silla was reluctant to accept it. The monk A-tow was supposed to have introduced Buddhism to Silla between 417 CE and 457 CE, but the religion was mainly confined to the royal family and was rejected by the people.However, this religious isolation was to change during the 7th century. At that time, Silla was at war with the kingdoms of Packche and Koguryo and was under constant invasion from Paekche. In 642 CE, it lost 40 castles to Packche attacks, including the great castle of Taeya near the capital of Silla. This atmosphere dramatically influenced the Buddhist faith of all three kingdoms. Religion became more nationalistic, which tended to intensify the ferocity of the conflicts.
To accelerate the development of this type of national spirit in Silla, King Pop-hung wanted to recognize Buddhism officially in 527 CE. He tried to establish it as an official state religion in the area around Kyongju. The attempt was met with vehement opposition by members of the court. In 528 CE, these members of the court pressured the King into agreeing to the execution of a 22-year-old monk named Ichadon to convince them that Buddhism was a worthwhile religion. Ichadon's death for his belief in Buddhism resulted in stories of his blood at the execution being as white as milk. These stories made him a martyr, so the King issued a royal mandate that granted freedom to belief in Buddhism. Shortly afterward, Buddhism was accepted by the people. In later years, King Hun-duk named Ichadon as one of the ten sacred monks of Silla. The study of Buddhism during the reign of King Pop-hung required the ability to read and write Chinese, so serious study was still confined mainly to monks and the aristocratic population.
Unfortunately, not many places were open to serious Buddhist students to study in Silla. Therefore, in 650 CE, Won-hyo and the noted monk Ui-sang, like other monks of the time, set out to study Buddhism in China. The overland journey took them to Liaotung in Koguryo. Mistaken as spies along the way by Koguryo sentries, they barely escaped captivity and were able to return to Silla. There is no further record of Won-hyo traveling to China to study, although one more attempt was made shortly after Packche was defeated in 660 CE by Silla and Tang troops from China. However, such study was not necessary because Won-hyo's possessed wisdom from birth, so he did not need a teacher. As a result, Won-hyo became the only monk of his time who did not study in China.
The many monks who did study in China had a broad impact on the religious culture of the Korean peninsula. In fact, there were at least five main sects of Buddhism practiced in Silla during this period: Kyeyul, Yulban, Chinpyo, Popsong, and Hwaom. Won-hyo introduced Chinpyo and Popsong. Popsong was based on Hwajong-non (Treatise on the harmonious understanding of the ten doctrines) from which Won-Hyo's posthumous title of "Hwajong Kuksa" was derived. Won-Hyo was, in fact, the most influential of the many monks of the 7th century. He used his power in an effort to unify the five existing sects and reduce their constant sectarian rivalries.
Won-hyo the writer
Won-hyo is also considered to be one of the most prolific writers in all of the Buddhist countries of his time; his works include over 100 different kinds of literature consisting of about 240 volumes. Unfortunately, only 20 works of a total of 25 volumes have survived.One of the forms of writing Won-hyo chose to use was a special Silla poetic form, Hyang-ga. These poems were mainly written by monks or members of the Hwarang and concerned patriotism, Buddhism, and praise of the illustrious dead. Won-hyo's poem "Hwaorm-Ga" is said to be among the most admired of these poems.
Won-hyo's writing was not the only area in which he gained recognition. He was well known both to the general population and to the members of the royal family and their court. He was often asked to conduct services, recite prayers, and give sermons at the royal court. In 660 AD, King Muyo became so interested in Won-hyo that he asked him to come and live in the royal palace of Yosok. Won-hyo developed a relationship with the royal princess Kwa, which was soon followed by their marriage and the birth of their son Sol-chong.
Woh-hyo's son
Sol-chong grew up to become one of the ten Confucian sages of the Silla era. He is recognized for his scholarship in Chinese literature and history and for his adaptation of idu, the system of using Chinese characters phonetically to record Korean songs and poems. Since Korea had not yet developed an alphabet, this adaptation was very important. It made Chinese literature available to the general public by creating a method for translation. Sol-Chong is said to have been the author of many original works; however, his Kye-hwa-wang is his only surviving work.Shortly after his son was born, Won-hyo left the palace and began traveling the country. He was recognized as a great scholar by the Dang Dynasty of China, although he never studied there, and he was highly respected by the people of Korea. He hated that different religions argued with each other over their different beliefs, so he created his own ideology in which the conflicts between various religions could be reconciled.
Won-hyo leaves priesthood
In 661 CE, Won-hyo experienced a revelation in his Buddhist philosophy and developed the Chongto-Ggyo (Pure Land) sect. This sect did not require study of the Chinese Buddhist literature for salvation, but merely diligent prayer. His belief was that one could obtain salvation, or enter the "Pure Land," by simply praying. This fundamental change in Buddhist philosophy made religion accessible to the lower classes and it soon became very popular among the entire population.However, Won-hyo’s most remarkable achievements were his efforts in relieving the poverty and suffering of ordinary people. In 662 CE, he left the priesthood and devoted the rest of his life to traveling the country teaching this new sect to the common people. Won-Hyo's contributions to the culture and national awareness of Silla were instrumental in the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
Won-hyo's death
Won-hyo died in 686 CE and was laid in state by his son Sol-chong in Punhwang-Sa temple. He had seen the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea in his own lifetime and had helped to bring about a brilliant culture in Korea through his efforts in Buddhist philosophy. He had a profound influence on the quality of life in Silla and on Buddhism in Korea, China, and Japan.Movements
Notes
- Different organizations may have different movements and different ways to perform the pattern. Perform the pattern as specified by your organization.
- Organizations may have different places at which a kiyup is required. Kiyup at the places specified by your organization.
Number of movements: 28
Diagram of movements
EXPLANATION OF MOVEMENTS
Attention and bow: As per your school's procedures.
Ready stance: High enclosed fist in a closed ready stance
- Turn 90° to the left into a left back stance toward the West, with a left square block toward the West.
- Execute a right inward knife hand strike toward the West, while bringing the left fist to the right shoulder.
- Execute a left middle punch toward the West, while sliding the left foot toward the West into a left fixed stance.
- Bring the left foot back beside the right foot, turn 180° to the right and step the right foot toward the East into a right back stance, with a right square block toward the East.
- Execute a left inward knife hand strike toward the East, while bringing the right fist to the left shoulder.
- Execute a right middle punch toward the East, while sliding the left foot toward the East into a right fixed stance.
- Bring the right foot back beside the left foot, with the body facing the East, look toward the North and execute a left double middle guarding fist block toward the North.
- Execute a left middle side thrust kick toward the North.
- Lower the left foot toward the North into a left back stance, with a left double middle guarding knife hand block toward the North.
- Step the right foot toward the North into a right back stance, with a right double middle guarding knife hand block toward the North.
- Step the left foot toward the North into a left back stance, with a left double middle guarding knife hand block toward the North.
- Step right the foot toward the North into a right front stance, with a right middle vertical spear hand thrust with the top of the left palm held under the right elbow.
- Turn 270° to the left into a left back stance toward the East, with a left square block toward the East.
- Execute a right inward knife hand strike toward the East, while bringing the left fist to the right shoulder.
- Execute a left middle punch toward the East, while sliding the left foot toward the East into a left fixed stance.
- Bring the left foot back beside the right foot, turn 180° to the right and step the right foot toward the West into a right back stance, with a right square block toward the West.
- Execute a left inward knife hand strike toward the West, while bringing the right fist to the left shoulder.
- Execute a right middle punch toward the West, while sliding the left foot toward the West into a right fixed stance.
- Slide the right foot back to the left foot and step the left foot toward the South into a left front stance, with a right middle inner forearm block.
- Execute a right middle front kick and step down into a right front stance toward the South.
- Execute a left middle fore fist punch.
- Execute a left middle inner forearm block.
- Execute a left middle front kick and step down into a left front stance toward the South.
- Execute a right middle fore fist punch.
- Bring the right foot up beside the left foot and, with body facing the East, look to the South and execute a right double middle guarding fist block toward the South.
- Execute a right middle side thrust kick toward the South.
- Lower the right foot beside the left foot with the body facing the North and step the left foot toward the West into a left back stance, with a left middle guarding fist block.
- Bring the left foot back beside the right foot and then step the right foot toward the East into a right back stance, with a right middle guarding fist block.
Attention and bow: As per your school's procedures.
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