Korean Studies Series 8
by Jae-ryong Shim

size: A5, 306pages. publisher: Jimoondang, 1999.


About this book

In the twelfth century, Korea was divided into two camps of Buddhist tradition: the Hwaom scholars of textual study tended to discuss extremely abstruse theories about the dharmadhatu without having any practical course of direct, personal authentication, while the Son practitioners were involved in mere sitting-meditation, resolutely avoiding all analysis of the philosophical foundations for such practice. Chinul's recognition of the limitations of the both viewpoints led to his attempt at a philosophical synthesis of "theory (Kyo)" and "practice (Son)". Chinul's interpretation of the relationship between Kyo and Son is not only relevant to the historical development of Korean Buddhism, but also important in the way it sheds light on Mahayana philosophy in general. especially in regards to the question of how Buddhist theory relates to Buddhist practice.


About the author

Shim Jae-ryong is a professor of Buddhist philosophy, Seoul national University at present. He received his Ph.D. on Chinul's integration of Zen and Huayen Buddhism in Hawaii University in 1979. He is a member of the ECAI-Korea, Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative of Korea, which was initiated in 1997 by Prof. Lewis Lancaster at UC Berkeley. The list of publication in Korean: Life is but a sea of suffering (1994), A History of Chinese Buddhist Philosophy (1994), The Land where the Buddha cannot come (1990), Wisdom of East and Zen (1990), etc.


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