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

Uisang (625-702) was a Buddhist monk philosopher who established the Silla Hwaeom thought and a religious leader who led Amitaand Avalokitesvara beliefs. Uisang’s Hwaeom thought was passed down continuously not only in Silla but also in Goryeo Dynasty. It has been continuously inherited to occupy the center of Korean Hwaeom thought, and has further established itself as a great legacy of Korean Buddhist thought. Uisang’s wrote Beopseongge (Gatha on the Dharma nature), which has been popular since the end of Goryeo, received so much attention that it was interpreted during the Joseon Dynasty, as Seoljam and Yumun. And from the 17th century, it was widely transmitted as it was included in the Buddhist rituals.
The Hwaeom thought of Uisang showed a high level of thought that influenced Wonhyo and Fazang, representative thinkers of the that times. In addition, it is difficult to find an example in the history of Korean Buddhism that the ideology was inherited and revered in a synonymous way to Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon. Even in today’s Buddhist rituals, Beopseongge is still being transmitted, and its origin lies in the systematic ideology, faith, and thorough attitude of practitioner suggested by Uisang.
The thoughts of Uisang adopted various ideological influences such as Chinese Huayen and Dilunzong. Uisang emphasized his disciples that they must meditate themselves are just as Guraebul(the buddhas from times long past). And he thaught his disciples to practice the Middle Way. The practices of Uisang and his disciples showed a very unique tendency at the times, reminiscent of Zen practice.
The ideological and historical significance of Uisang lies in the fact that he is a person who has both contemporary and long time characteristics, which are very rare in the history of Korean Buddhism. Uisang’s Hwaeom thought was a major achievement of his period, and he shared it with Wonhyo and Fazang, and exchanged influences with each other. Uisang’s main writing Ilseungbeopgyedo published interpretations of it in the Silla, as well as in the Goryeo and Joseon, proving the influence of Uisang’s thought on Korean Buddhism. Uisang has long been an object of reverence as a representation of a practitioner who thoroughly embodied the thought. In addition, Uisang has become the only person who has become familiar with people through Beopseongge in modern Korean Buddhism. In this way, Uisang has a special status as a Buddhist philosopher in the history of Korean Buddhism.
Future research of Uisang’s thought should find out how much social resonance his thoughts gained in the 7th century Silla society, and what activities Uisang and his disciples carried out in that time and space. It is also necessary to systematically examine how Uisang’s thoughts are related to other contemporary ideas and what are the differences of them at East Asian Buddhism. The study of Uisang has several perspectives and various research trends, just like a miniature version of the study of Korean Buddhist history. For the proper evaluation of Uisang, a detailed exploration of the ideas and beliefs, he wanted to carry out in the society he lived in and their social significance should be the basis of the study.