Questions and Answers on the Avatamsaka-sutra
| Author | : Uisang |
| Publisher | : Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism |
| Total Pages | : 384 |
| Release | : 2023-12-15 |
| Genre | : Religion |
| ISBN | : |
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It is a translation of the Silla master Uisang’s 義湘 (625-702) lecture compiled by his disciple Jitong 智通 (655-?) in the question-answer format on major topics of Hwaeom doctrines. Uisang, after learning from the second Chinese Huayan patriarch Zhiyan 智儼, laid the foundation of Silla Hwaeom by building Buseoksa 浮石寺 Temple and teaching students. His works include the Hwaeom ilseung beopgyedo 華嚴一乘法界圖 (Chart of the Dharma-realm of the One Vehicle of Hwaeom) and the Baekhwa doryang barwon mun 白花道場發願文 (Vow at the White Lotus Enlightenment Site). Jitong, one of Uisang’s ten main disciples, coming from low social status, compiled the Chudong gi 錐洞記, which recorded Uisang’s 90-day lecure on the Hwaeomgyeong in Chudong on Sobaeksan Mountain. The Hwaeomgyeong mundap is often regarded as a different edition of the Chudong gi, through which Uisang’s thought can be seen. The Hwaeomgyeong mundap records 160 questions and answers in two volumes. It was known as the third Chinese Huayan patriarch Fazang 法藏 who also studied with Uisang. However, Japanese and Korean scholars began to argue that it was Uisang’s work in the 1980s and, recently, Uisang’s authorship was finally confirmed. Along with the Hwaeom ilseung beopgyedo, it reflects Uisang as the Hwaeom thinker who also emphasized practice, including his view on the theories of seonggi 性起 (nature origination) and yeon’gi 緣起 (dependent origination). It shows some of the features of Korean Hwaeom studies, also having a huge influence in Japan. The appendix of this English translation includes the images of the original text that professor Kim Cheon-hak at Dongguk University owns.
