Wonhyo, who lived from 617 to 686, was one of the most important philosophers and commentators in East Asian Buddhism and the most prolific scholar in Korean Buddhism. He produced more than eighty works across two hundred forty fascicles, including influential commentaries on buddha-nature texts such as the Vajrasamadhi Sutra, the Awakening of Faith, and the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, works that became classics respected throughout Korea, China and Japan. His philosophical contributions were foundational for all of Korean Buddhism and shaped East Asian Buddhist thought more broadly.
Facts
Office HeldLayman of Minor Lineage 1 BirthplaceAmnyang (present-day Gyeongsan, South Korea) 1 In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: China, originated there.
Sources
1. Wonhyo, Wikipedia
Opening paragraph
617 - 686
Opening paragraph, birthplace clause
Amnyang (modern Gyeongsan, South Korea)
Opening paragraph, death place clause
Hyeolsa
Biography section
Wonhyo left the priesthood after an affair with a princess named Yoseok. He then turned to spreading Buddhism among the common people as a layman, calling himself a 'Layman of Minor Lineage.'
Lead section, nationality sentence
Wŏnhyo (Korean: 원효; Chinese: 元曉; 617-686, meaning: "Dawnbreak") was one of the most important philosophers and commentators in East Asian Buddhism and the most prolific scholar in Korean Buddhism.
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