The life time of the compiler, Myeong Yeon (明衍, ? –1704–?), of the Yeombulbogwonmun (念仏普勧文) is unknown but it can only be presumed that he lived around the 17th and 18th centuries as a descendant of Cheong Heo (清虚).
The title of the preface is “大弥陀懺畧抄要覧普勧念仏文” and he summarizes the cases of going to the pure land after death found in the Linian mituo daochang chanfa (礼念弥陀道場懺法) of Wang Zi cheng (王子成). The first half is compiled from various sūtras and commentaries by Myeong Yeon. It was engraved on wood blocks and printed at the Yongmunsa (竜門寺), Yechenon (醴泉), in 1705 (康熙甲申年). The purpose of the compilation was to propagate the belief on mindfulness of a Buddha through spreading both the Chinese version, for those who could read Chinese, and the Korean version, for those who could not read Chinese. As time went by, this text was engraved and printed at many places and new materials from various sources have been added, which means that this text has become popular more and more.
The main characteristics of this text are to emphasize the belief in mindfulness in Amita buddha and translate the Chinese version into Korean in order that it might be read by anyone. This text might be said to be a comprehensive propaganda text of the belief on mindfulness in Amita buddha in that it explains the benefits of recommendation for reading and spreading this text.
