The nine mountain schools (九山; or ''gusan'') were the initial
monasteries
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
of the
Korean
Korean may refer to:
People and culture
* Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula
* Korean cuisine
* Korean culture
* Korean language
**Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl
**Korean dialects and the Jeju language
** ...
branch of
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...
called
Seon, founded in the
Unified Silla period in the 8th or 9th century.
The initial transmission of Seon into Korea is usually attributed to
Beomnang (法朗; fl. 632-646), said to be a student of the Chinese master
Daoxin
Dayi Daoxin ( Chinese: 道信; Pinyin: ''Dàoxìn;'' Wade–Giles: ''Tao-hsin;'' Romanji: ''Dōshin''), who lived from 580–651, was the fourth Chán Buddhist Patriarch, following Jianzhi Sengcan ( Chinese: 鑑智僧璨; Pīnyīn: ''Jiànzhì ...
(道信; 580-651). Seon was later popularized especially by
Sinhaeng (神行; 704-779) in the latter part of the eighth century and by (道義; d. 825) at the beginning of the ninth century. From then on, many Koreans studied
Chan in China and, upon their return, established their own schools at various mountain monasteries with their leading disciples.
The number of these schools was initially fixed to nine, whence the name derives. Eight of these schools were of the lineage of
Mazu Daoyi
Mazu Daoyi (709–788) (, Japanese: Baso Dōitsu) was an influential abbot of Chan Buddhism during the Tang dynasty. The earliest recorded use of the term "Chan school" is from his ''Extensive Records''. Master Ma's teaching style of "strange wo ...
(馬祖道一; 709-788), as they were established through connection with either him or one of his eminent disciples:
# The
Gaji san school (迦智山), established at
Borimsa (寶林寺) under the influence of Doui and his grand-student Chejing (體澄; 804-890). Doui studied in China under
Zhizang (735-814) and
Baizhang
Baizhang Huaihai (; pinyin: ''Bǎizhàng Huáihái''; Wade-Giles: ''Pai-chang Huai-hai''; ja, Hyakujō Ekai) (720–814) was a Zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) ...
(百丈; 749-814).
# The
Seongju san school (聖住山), established by
Muyeom (無染; 800-888) who received his
inga
''Inga'' is a genus of small tropical, tough-leaved, nitrogen-fixing treesElkan, Daniel. "Slash-and-burn farming has become a major threat to the world's rainforest" ''The Guardian'' 21 April 2004 and shrubs, subfamily Mimosoideae. ''Inga''s ...
from
Magu Baozhe (麻谷寶徹; b. 720?).
# The
Silsangsan school (實相山), founded by
Hongcheok (洪陟; fl. 830), who also studied under Zhizang.
# The
Huiyang san school (曦陽山), founded by Beomnang and
Chiseon Doheon (智詵道憲; 824-882), who was taught by a Korean teacher of the Mazu transmission.
# The
Bongnim san school (鳳林山), established by
Weongam (圓鑑; 787-869) and his student Simhui (審希; fl. 9c). Weongam was a student of
Zhangjing Huaihui (章敬懷暉; 748-835).
# The
Dongni san school (桐裡山), established by
Hyejeol (慧徹; 785-861) who was a student of Zhizang.
# The
Sagul san school (闍崛山), established by
Beom'il (梵日; 810-889), who studied in China with
Yanguan Qian (鹽官齊安; 750?-842) and
Yuesha Weiyan (樂山惟嚴).
# The
Saja san Saja may refer to:
* Saja Records
* South Asian Journalists Association
* Saja (river) - a river of Spain
* Sebastian Saja - Argentine football goalkeeper
* Saja, Chhattisgarh - an assembly constituency under Durg (Lok Sabha constituency) in Chha ...
school (獅子山), established by
Doyun (道允; 797-868), who studied under
Nanquan Puyan (南泉普願; 748-835).
The ninth of these initial schools was the
Sumi san (須彌山) school founded by
Ieom (利嚴; 869-936), which had developed from the
Caodong
Caodong school () is a Chinese Chan Buddhist sect and one of the Five Houses of Chán.
Etymology
The key figure in the Caodong school was founder Dongshan Liangjie (807-869, 洞山良价 or Jpn. Tozan Ryokai). Some attribute the name "Cáodòng" ...
(曹洞) lineage.
Korean Seon
History of Buddhism in Korea
Buddhist monasteries
{{Buddhism-stub