Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

The Seonwon dojung gyeorui 禪源圖中決疑, known to have been written by Byeokam Gakseong (1575-1660) in the mid-Joseon period, has not been discovered in the form of a printed edition. Recently, however, I have found out that a xylographic edition of this book is owned by Seongbo Museum in Beomeosa Temple in Busan. The newly found book is a combined issue of the Seonwon dojung gyeorui 禪源圖中決疑 and the Chamsang seonji seol 參詳禪旨說, another text authored by Byeokam Gakseong, both of which were published at Haeinsa Temple on Mount Gaya in Hapcheon in 1648. The former text is composed of 13 questions and answers, in which Byeokam Gakseong replies to the questions by itinerant Seon monks on the doubtful points appearing in the "diagram on the ten stages of delusion and enlightenment" from the Chanyuan zhujuan ji duxu 禪源諸詮集都序 (hereafter Preface). The latter text is based on the discourse delivered by Byeokam Gakseong at Hwaeomsa Temple in 1636. This text comprises an explanation for the gist of Bojo Jinul's Seon on the "Discarding [Attachment to] the Meaning of the Doctrine and Examining the Seon Tenets in Detail" 放下敎義 參商禪旨 from the Beopjip byeorhaengnok jeoryo byeongip sagi 法集別行錄節要幷入私記(hereafter Excerpts). These two texts were in fact dictated to an attendant whose name was Seolbong Huian, a disciple of Byeokam Gakseong. And the postscript to the book, Seo dojung gyeorui hu 書圖中決疑後, was written in calligraphy by Donghoe Sin Ikseong (1588-1644), a son-in-law of King Seonjo, at Baegunru on Mount Yongmun in Gyeonggi Province in 1642. The newly found Byeokam Gakseong’s Seonwon dojung gyeorui has the significant meaning as the initiative in the personal notes 私記 on the Preface and the Excerpts, both of which were annotated by monks of the late Joseon period in the 18th century. Therefore the further substantial studies are expected to proceed on the teaching and thought of Byeokam Gakseong.