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

This article investigates the characteristics of the Huayan theory of zhongxing(種性 gotra, clan or lineage) in Kyun-nyo(均如) of the Koryeo dynasty in the history of the Huayan theory of zhongxing. The view of Zhi-yan(智嚴) as the estab\-lisher of Huayan studies on Zhongxing was focused on prac\-tice. This view became the basic understanding of zhongxing in the Huayan scholars of East Asia through Fazang(法藏).Fazang’s thought on Zhongxing can be ascertained in the Huayanjiaofenji(華嚴敎分記). Through the analysis of Kyun-nyo’ s commentary on it in also be ascertained to have been partly composed of a misunderstanding of it. Although such phe\-nomena occur generally among Huayan scholars, Kyun-nyo’ s distinctive understanding can be extracted through its com\-parison with the Kegonshū shushōgishō(華嚴宗種性義抄) in the Heian period of Japan.Kyun-nyo’s understanding of zhongxing inherits Fazang’ s by and large, his establishment of the characteristics of the significance of Zhongxing in the Final teachings is especially based upon the illumination of Benjue(本覺, original awak\-ening) from diverse perspectives. In addition, he clarifies it through the citation of Fazang’s Qixinbieji(起信別記, Addi\-tional Commentary on the Awakening of Faith in Mahayana) in order to prove its relation with the thought of Bao Fu(報佛, Recompensed Buddha), which is a result of his partial mis\-understanding of Fazang’s thought in its logic. He also thor\-oughly investigated the commentaries of the Faxiang(法相) school in order to criticize the doctrines of the Faxiang Weishi (法相唯識), understanding the Mahāyāna-saṃgraha belonging to the Final teachings in relation to the Elementary teachings in his critical attitude to the Elementary Teachings on the basis of the Final teachings. Further, he maintains a critical attitude toward the theory of zhongxing in the Final teachings. These series of steps as preparatory works in order to establish fi\-nally the doctrine of Yuanjiao(圓敎) in its perfection can be interpreted to be the deepening of Huayan thought through commentarial works in misunderstanding.