Won Buddhism, which was founded in Kroea in 1916 as a unique form of Buddhism, has been played a part in forming the religious thought of Korean people through the history of Korean nation's trial.
The theoretical search for the nature or central fa...
Won Buddhism, which was founded in Kroea in 1916 as a unique form of Buddhism, has been played a part in forming the religious thought of Korean people through the history of Korean nation's trial.
The theoretical search for the nature or central faith of this religion is needed to proceed at present point The original purpose of this study is to elucidate the real phase of this religion from the vewpoint, of Korean history of thought and Korean history of religion as well as from the view point, of world history of thought and world history of religion.
In the midway of my research, I found it was more effective to selectively compare the faith of won Buddhism with the similarities and to clarify the difference among them, as original purpose was too broad to be effectively achieved.
I1-won-Sang, meaning the phases of One Circle, is the central object of won Buddhist faith. In realty, Il-won-Sang(○) has been respected as the symbol of ultimate Truth in Zen Buddhism. In new confucianism, ○ was also respected as the symbol of ultimate truth and identified with teh Tai-chi(太梔).
St.Augustine described the nature of God as a circle whose centre was every where, and its circumference nowhere. In older times of Buddhism and Hinduism, (about A.D.ic.), ○was adopted as the symbol of ultimate truth before Zen buddhism rose. In fact, ○symbol was applied to the ○Symbol in mathematical Notation before A.D.5.C.
○, I1-won-Sang in won Buddhism, is realized and applied somewhat differently in meaning with ○in Zen Buddhism. Il-won-Sang in won Buddhism in meaning can be understood as that of Zen Buddhism supplemented by the thoughts of Hwaom(華嚴) Buddhism, or Chun-Tai(天台) Buddhism and of the Esoteric Buddhism. Pan-Grace(or Benefaction) theory also constitute an important part of Il-won Sang(○) thought by ven. So-Taisan, founder of won Buddhism. In fact, Pan-Grace theroy is one of the most chracteristic of korean history of religion.