Hwaom sect

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Hwaom sect
Hangul 화엄
Hanja 華嚴
Revised Romanization Hwa-eom
McCune-Reischauer Hwaŏm



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Hwaeom is the Korean name for the Flower Garland school of Buddhism, best known as the Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism that developed as part of the Mahāyāna branch. Buddhism first began in India, and as it spread to other areas, distinct branches developed. The Mahāyāna branch, which developed later than the Theravada branch, developed in China, and is found today primarily in China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. In Korea, the major schools in the Mahāyāna branch are the Zen or Seon School, which focuses on meditation; the Pure Land or Jeongtojong School and the Hwaeom School, which emphasizes doctrine.

Foundation of Buddhism in Korea

Buddhism entered Korea from China in the 4th century, and developed its own character, influenced by elements of Shamanism, Korea's indiginous religion, and guided by great teachers who arose among Korea's Buddhists. Wonhyo (617-686) sought elimnate disbutes about which doctrines are superior to others, by teaching that doctrines are not an end in and of themselves, but a way to lead believers to understand that the world is temporal; and all phenomena are products of the mind. He was also committed to making Buddhism approachable for all people, not only the aristocrats; he worked to make Buddhism practical so that the common people could understand it too.

=Huayen Buddhim from China

major Buddhist teachers who appeared including the Mahāyāna branch which began in

The greatest lasting impact of the Huayan school was to be seen in Korea, where it was transmitted by Uisang 義湘, who had been, along with Fazang, a student of Zhiyan. After Uisang returned to Korea in 671, he worked vigorously toward the establishment of the Hwaeom school on the peninsula. In this effort, he was greatly aided by the powerful influences of his friend Wonhyo 元曉, who although not an official representative of the school, relied deeply on Hwaeom metaphysical principles to establish his concept of interpenetrated Buddhism 通佛教.

After the passing of these two early monks, the Hwaeom school became strongly established under the influence of a long series of Hwaeom masters. The Hwaeom school remained in the position of predominant doctrinal school in Korea up till the end of the Goryeo period, when it was placed into a forced merger with the Seon school 禪宗. Within the Seon school, Hwaeom thought would continue to play a strong role, and continues as such to modern times.

See also

  • Hwaeomsa (Hwaeom Temple)
  • List of Korea-related topics

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