Wŏnhyo was one of the most important philosophers and commentators in East Asian Buddhism and the most prolific scholar in Korean Buddhism. As one of the most eminent scholar-monks in East Asian history, his extensive literary output runs to over 80 works in 240 fascicles. His most influential commentaries are those on buddha-nature texts like the *Vajrasamādhisūtra, the Awakening of Faith, and the Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra. These works became classics widely respected throughout Korea, China and Japan.
The Huayan school of Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty (618-907). The Huayan worldview is based primarily on the Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra as well as on the works of Huayan patriarchs, like Zhiyan (602–668), Fazang (643–712), Chengguan (738–839), Zongmi (780–841) and Li Tongxuan (635–730).
The Buddhāvataṃsaka-nāma-mahāvaipulya-sūtra is one of the most influential Mahāyāna sutras of East Asian Buddhism. It is often referred to in short as the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. In Classical Sanskrit, avataṃsaka means garland, wreath, or any circular ornament, such as an earring. Thus, the title may be rendered in English as A Garland of Buddhas, Buddha Ornaments, or Buddha's Garland. In Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit, the term avataṃsaka means "a great number," "a multitude," or "a collection." This is matched by the Tibetan title of the sutra, which is A Multitude of Buddhas.
The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment or Complete Enlightenment is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra highly esteemed by both the Huayan and Zen schools. The earliest records are in Chinese, and it is believed to be of Chinese origin.
Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what its early practitioners saw as inconsistencies within the Mahayana Buddhist traditions that they received from foreign countries. To address this, they developed a new holistic approach to Buddhism that became a distinct form, an approach characteristic of virtually all major Korean thinkers. The resulting variation is called Tongbulgyo, a form that sought to harmonize previously arising disputes among scholars.
Vairocana also known as Mahāvairocana is a major Buddha from Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Vairocana is often interpreted, in texts like the Avatamsaka Sutra, as the Dharmakāya of the historical Gautama Buddha.
Il-yeon, also spelled Iryeon, was a Korean Buddhist monk and All-Enlightened National Preceptor during the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. His birth name was either Kim Gyeong-myeong (金景明) or Jeon Gyeon-myeong (全見明), and his courtesy name was Hoe-yeon (晦然).
Seonjong of Goryeo was the 13th king of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. He was the second son of Empress Inye and born in September, 1049. He was made Marquis of Gukwon (國原侯) in March 1056. Harmony of Confucism and Buddhism made his political statute very stable. Also he propelled broad-range trade among the Song dynasty, Liao dynasty, the Jurchens, and Japan.
Guinsa, in the Yeonhwa area of the Sobaek Mountains located near Danyang in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, is the headquarters of the Cheontae school of Korean Buddhism. Guinsa is the administrative center of over 140 sub-temples and hermitages of the Cheontae sect.
Fazang was a Sogdian-Chinese Buddhist scholar, translator, and religious leader of the Tang dynasty. He was the third patriarch of the Huayan school of East Asian Buddhism, a key figure at the Chinese Imperial Court, and an influential Chinese Buddhist philosopher. Some scholars see him as the main figure in or even de facto founder of the Huayan school. Fazang's ancestors came from the Central Asian region of Sogdia, a major center for Silk Road trade, but he was born in the Tang capital of Chang'an, where his family had become culturally Chinese.
Qingliang Chengguan, was an important scholar-monk and patriarch of the Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism also known as Huayan pusa and Qingliang Guoshi.
Ryeongtongsa is a Korean Buddhist temple located on Ogwansan in Kaesong, North Korea.
Woncheuk was a Korean Buddhist monk who worked in seventh century China. Woncheuk was a follower of Paramārtha (499-569) and the Shelun school 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 of classical Yogacara. This position had been rejected by Xuanzang and Kuiji. Woncheuk later became a student of Xuanzang and worked in his translation team. Woncheuk's works attempt to reconcile the two traditions of East Asian Yogacara and often diverges from the interpretations of Xuanzang and Kuiji in favor of the views of Paramārtha.
Hānshān Déqīng, was a leading Buddhist monk and poet of the late Ming dynasty China. He was also posthumously named Hongjue chanshi (弘覺大師). Hanshan was known for studying and teaching Pure Land, Huayan and Chán Buddhism. He is known as one of the four great masters of the Wanli Era Ming Dynasty, along with Yunqi Zhuhong (1535–1613) and Zibo Zhenke (1543–1603) both of whom he knew personally. He also wrote their biographies after their deaths.
Gyunyeo or Kyun Yeo was a Korean Buddhist monk and poet. He came from the Hwangju Byeon clan and his hometown was Hwangju. Among his works are the first extant collection of poetry in Korean, Songs of the Ten Vows Samantabhara, which can be found in The Life of Kuehne.
Original enlightenment or innate awakening is an East Asian Buddhist doctrine often translated as "inherent", "innate", "intrinsic" or "original" awakeness.
Huayan Temple or Huayan Monastery is a Buddhist temple located in Datong, Shanxi, China.
State Preceptor Jeungtong was a Goryeo prince who became a Korean Buddhist monk and was the one who rebuilt Jinpyoyul Temple (진표율사). He was the fifth and youngest son of Taejo of Goryeo and Queen Sinmyeong Jeungtong rose to the rank of State Preceptor. Later, during Joseon, the temple was repaired by King Sejo. Thousands of monks used to live in it.
Queen Inye of the Gyeongwon Yi clan or Queen Mother Inyesundeok was a Korean queen consort as the 2nd wife of Munjong of Goryeo and the first Goryeo queen who came from the powerful Gyeongwon Yi clan. Among her ten sons, three of the eldest became the reign kings and three others became a Buddhist monk. She was the grandmother of Heonjong and Yejong, also ancestors of all goryeo kings after her husband.
Li Tongxuan (635–730) was a lay Chinese Buddhist scholar and meditation master of the Huayan school.
