Wongwang
Encyclopedia
Won Gwang , also known as Won Gwang Beop Sa (圓光法士) meaning "Won Gwang Teacher of the Law", was the name of a renowned Buddhist monk, scholar, and teacher of the Silla
kingdom during the reign of King Jinpyeong
.
His layname was Seoul (서울 hanja: 薛) or Bak (박 hanja: 朴). Like a great number of other Korean Buddhist monks of the 6th-8th centuries, Won Gwang traveled to China in search of a more thorough grounding in the sacred texts of Buddhism. In 589 Wongwang went to Sui
China, where for eleven years he was educated in the major texts of both Hinayana
and Mahayana
Buddhism.
Won Gwang returned to Silla in 600 and promulgated the Mahayana form of Buddhism. His method was to teach the faith to the common people free of complex jargon and employing common words.
Won Gwang is best known for his "Five Commandments for Secular Life" (Sae Sok O-Gye
世俗五戒), which later were attributed as a guiding ethos for the Hwarang
. These five commandments were to serve as moral guideposts for the Buddhist layperson. They are an interesting fusion of the Buddhist beliefs and strong sense of patriotism that characterized Silla Buddhism. To Won Gwang, viewing Silla as a true Buddha Land and under constant threat from the neighboring kingdoms of Baekje
and Goguryeo
, the defense of that land and a Buddhist piety were not at all contradictory. These five principles were as follows:
The precise dates of Won Gwang‘s life are unknown.
Won Gwang‘s biography appears in the 13th century Haedong Goseungjeon
.
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
kingdom during the reign of King Jinpyeong
Jinpyeong of Silla
Jinpyeong of Silla is the 26th king of the Silla Dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Jinpyeong followed in the footsteps of King Jinheung by reorganizing the central ruling system, and as many conflicts with Baekje and Goguryeo arose, sent emissaries to improve relations and...
.
His layname was Seoul (서울 hanja: 薛) or Bak (박 hanja: 朴). Like a great number of other Korean Buddhist monks of the 6th-8th centuries, Won Gwang traveled to China in search of a more thorough grounding in the sacred texts of Buddhism. In 589 Wongwang went to Sui
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
China, where for eleven years he was educated in the major texts of both Hinayana
Hinayana
Hīnayāna is a Sanskrit and Pāli term literally meaning: the "Inferior Vehicle", "Deficient Vehicle", the "Abandoned Vehicle", or the "Defective Vehicle". The term appeared around the 1st or 2nd century....
and Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
Buddhism.
Won Gwang returned to Silla in 600 and promulgated the Mahayana form of Buddhism. His method was to teach the faith to the common people free of complex jargon and employing common words.
Won Gwang is best known for his "Five Commandments for Secular Life" (Sae Sok O-Gye
Sae Sok O-Gye
The Se Sok O-Gye, sometimes also referred to as just O-Gye, is the moral code of the hwarang formulated by a Buddhist monk named Won Gwang consisting of five rules:*사군이충 - 事君以忠 - Loyalty to the king...
世俗五戒), which later were attributed as a guiding ethos for the Hwarang
Hwarang
The Hwarang, or "Flower Boys"., were an elite group of male youth in Silla, an ancient Korean kingdom that lasted until the 10th century. There were educational institutions as well as social clubs where members gathered for all aspects of study, originally for arts and culture steeped mainly in...
. These five commandments were to serve as moral guideposts for the Buddhist layperson. They are an interesting fusion of the Buddhist beliefs and strong sense of patriotism that characterized Silla Buddhism. To Won Gwang, viewing Silla as a true Buddha Land and under constant threat from the neighboring kingdoms of Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
and Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, the defense of that land and a Buddhist piety were not at all contradictory. These five principles were as follows:
- Loyalty to one's lord (事君以忠; 임금은 충성으로써 섬겨야 한다)
- Devotion towards one's parents (事親以孝; 어버이를 효도로써 섬겨야 한다)
- Trust among friends (交友以信; 벗은 믿음으로써 사귀어야 한다)
- Never retreat in battle (臨戰無退; 전쟁에 임하여 물러나지 아니하여야 한다)
- Be selective in the taking of life (殺生有擇; 함부로 살생을 하지 말아야 한다)
The precise dates of Won Gwang‘s life are unknown.
Won Gwang‘s biography appears in the 13th century Haedong Goseungjeon
Haedong Goseungjeon
The Haedong Goseungjeon was a compilation of mostly Korean Buddhist hagiographies, notably of famous monks from the Three Kingdoms period of Korean history....
.