Korea Journal of Buddhist StudiesISSN:1598-0642(Print)불교학연구회

Yuanwu Keqin(圓悟克勤), a great master of Buddhism in the Southern Song Dynasty, attached a great deal of value to ‘Song Gu’(頌古, the well-known ancient verses expressed in succinct Gatha in Zen Buddhism is called Song Gu) and brought about the development of ‘Literal Zen’ during the Song Dynasty. His disciple, Dahui Zonggao(大慧宗杲 emphasized the thoughts of patriotism and loyalty to the throne, contributing to the secularization and prompt appropriation of Zen by the literati. KanhwaSeon advocated by Dahui Zonggao called for the practice of Zen master Zhaozhou’s wordless hwadu (話 頭). He encouraged practitioners to query a hwadu for getting enlightenment. So, Kanhwa involves direct into a hwadu which in turn involves searching for an answer in koan. The poetic circle of the Southern Song Dynasty was directly influenced by these characteristics of Zen sect in the Southern Song Dynasty showing traits either immediately or in the form of metaphors in their poetry(以禪入詩, 以禪喻詩). Zen master Songgao emphasized consistently about patriotism and the harmonized combination of Confucianism and Buddhism. And it’s not so surprising that Lu You(陸游), a model patriotic poet, emphasized the same thoughts in his verse(詩家三昧). Yang Wanli(楊萬里) also advocated flexible approach in his verse(活法) and break of the secular(透脫) and finally developed his own style of Chengzhai prosody(誠齋體). Fan Chengda(范成大) asserted nourishing heart by practicing Buddhism and stressed the syncretism of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism(三教融合) which was represented by the seclusion in his old age.