Woncheuk (613–696) was a
Korean Buddhist monk who did most of his writing in China, though his legacy was transmitted by a disciple to
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms ...
. One of the two star pupils of
Xuanzang
Xuanzang (, ; 602–664), born Chen Hui / Chen Yi (), also known as Hiuen Tsang, was a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making contributions to Chinese Buddhism, the travelogue of ...
, his works and devotion to the translation projects was revered throughout
China and
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
, even reaching Chinese rulers like
Emperors Taizong and
Gaozong of Tang and
Empress Wu of Zhou. His exegetical work was also revered and greatly influenced
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
and the greater Himalayan region.
Woncheuk was a follower of
Paramārtha (499-569) and the Shelun school (攝論宗) of Yogacara. This school defended the view that there was a ninth consciousness called the "pure consciousness" (''amalavijñāna''), as opposed to just the
eight consciousnesses
The Eight Consciousnesses (Skt. ''aṣṭa vijñānakāyāḥ'') is a classification developed in the tradition of the Yogācāra school of Mahayana Buddhism. They enumerate the five sense consciousnesses, supplemented by the mental consciousne ...
of orthodox
Yogacara
Yogachara ( sa, योगाचार, IAST: '; literally "yoga practice"; "one whose practice is yoga") is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through ...
. This position had been rejected by Xuanzang and
Kuiji
Kuījī (; 632–682), also known as Ji (), an exponent of Yogācāra, was a Chinese monk and a prominent disciple of Xuanzang.Lusthaus, Dan (undated). ''Quick Overview of the Faxiang School'' (). Source(accessed: December 12, 2007) His posthumous ...
.
Nomenclature, orthography and etymology
The
Zhengzhang Shangfang
Zhengzhang Shangfang (; ; 9 August 1933 – 19 May 2018) was a Chinese linguist, known for his reconstruction of Old Chinese.
Zhengzhang was born as Zheng Xiangfang ( ; ) in Yongjia County, on the outskirts of Wenzhou. As and have the same ...
reconstruction of the Middle Chinese pronunciation of his name is 圓測 /ɦˠiuᴇnťʃʰɨk̚/. Woncheuk () was also known as , which is a namesake attributed to the temple of the same name where he did his
exegesis
Exegesis ( ; from the Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Biblical works. In modern usage, exegesis can involve critical interpretation ...
.
Biography
Korean born, he lived at
Xi Ming Temple and studied at the commencement of the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdom ...
with the great translator and exponent of
Yogacara
Yogachara ( sa, योगाचार, IAST: '; literally "yoga practice"; "one whose practice is yoga") is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through ...
, the well-travelled Xuanzang. Through Xuanzang's tutelage, he focused upon the study of the
Yogacara
Yogachara ( sa, योगाचार, IAST: '; literally "yoga practice"; "one whose practice is yoga") is an influential tradition of Buddhist philosophy and psychology emphasizing the study of cognition, perception, and consciousness through ...
doctrine. Woncheuk authored commentaries on early Indian and
Mahayana
''Mahāyāna'' (; "Great Vehicle") is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices. Mahāyāna Buddhism developed in India (c. 1st century BCE onwards) and is considered one of the three main existing br ...
literature. Woncheuk died in China, in a temple in Loyang. Woncheuk is well known amongst scholars of
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
and the Himalaya for his Commentary on the ''
Saṃdhinirmocana sūtra.'' While in Tang China, Woncheuk took as a disciple a Korean-born monk named
Dojeung (), who travelled to Silla in 692 and propounded and propagated Woncheuk's exegetical tradition there where it flourished.
Choo (2006: p. 125) holds that though the ''
Heart Sutra'' is generally identified as within the auspice of the
Second Turning of the
Dharmacakra
The dharmachakra (Sanskrit: धर्मचक्र; Pali: ''dhammacakka'') or wheel of dharma is a widespread symbol used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and especially Buddhism.John C. Huntington, Dina Bangdel, ''The Circle o ...
(Sanskrit), Woncheuk in his commentary provides an exegesis from the Third Turning: Woncheuk contributed to the development of the Dharmic discourse of
Essence-Function and
Ekayāna
Ekayāna ( sa, एकयान, ) is a Sanskrit word that can mean "one path" or "one vehicle". It is used both in the Upanishads and the Mahāyāna sūtras.
Upanishads
In the ''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad'', "ekayāna" took on special significance ...
.
Extant works
Choo (2006: p. 123) lists Woncheuk's three extant works, namely:
*the ''Commentary on the Heart Sutra'' (), which is the first commentary on
Xuanzang
Xuanzang (, ; 602–664), born Chen Hui / Chen Yi (), also known as Hiuen Tsang, was a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making contributions to Chinese Buddhism, the travelogue of ...
's translation of the ''Heart Sutra''
*the ''Commentary on the Samdhinirmocana-sutra'' (), which is the largest extant commentary on that sutra—called “the Great Chinese Commentary” by the eminent
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna ( sa, वज्रयान, "thunderbolt vehicle", "diamond vehicle", or "indestructible vehicle"), along with Mantrayāna, Guhyamantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, are names referring t ...
scholar
Je Tsongkhapa
*the ''Commentary on the Benevolent King Sutra'' ().
[Choo, B. Hyun (2006). "An English Translation of the Banya paramilda simgyeong chan: Wonch'uk's Commentary on the Heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita-hrdaya-sutra)." cited in: ''International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Culture'' February 2006, Vol. 6, pp. 121–205. 2006. International Association for Buddhist Thought & Culture. Source]
(accessed: February 2, 2009), p. 123
Notes
References
*Choo, B. Hyun (2006). "An English Translation of the Banya paramilda simgyeong chan: Wonch'uk's Commentary on the Heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita-hrdaya-sutra)." cited in: ''International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Culture'' February 2006, Vol.6, pp. 121–205. 2006 International Association for Buddhist Thought & Culture. Source
(accessed: February 2, 2009)
*Chung, Byung Cho (1977). "Wonch'uk ui ''Banya Simgyeong Chan'' Yon-ku (The Study of Wonch'uk's ''Commentary on the Heart Sūtra'')." ''The Journal of Korean Studies''. No.9, Winter. Seoul: II Ji Sa.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wonchuk
7th-century Buddhists
7th-century Korean people
Korean emigrants to China
7th-century Korean philosophers
Korean scholars of Buddhism
Silla Buddhist monks
613 births
696 deaths
Yogacara