人間佛教=入世佛教=Humanistic Buddhism=Engaged Buddhism; Ch'Oui Uisun=草衣意恂; 禪; Choson=朝鮮; Philosophy; religion and theology; Language; literature and linguistics; Artist; Son master; Korea
摘要
Through appreciation of the life and thought of Ch'oui (1786-1866), this study is an effort to recover and supplement some parts of the intellectual history of religious culture in Korea, focusing on Buddhism in late Choson, which is the direct root of the traditional spirit of modern Korea.
This study consists of five chapters which cover Ch'oui's life and environment, Buddhist studies and practices, literature, the arts, and tea, reviewing the historical context of each subject. Ch'oui became a Buddhist monk at the age of fifteen, and subsequently studied the scriptures, practiced Son (Ch'an, Zen) meditation, and attained enlightenment. He was learned in Chinese and also Sanskrit, and was skilled in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and other arts: he is well-known in Korea for having revived the Way of Tea.
Ch'oui was one of the most important figures in late Choson Korea. He had great talent and the energy to engage in all the arts and with men of all levels, including representative intellectuals such as Tasan and Ch'usa, while attending to all his religious responsiblities. He contributed much to cultural and spiritual fields, and encouraged people to open their minds and turn away from dogmatic limitations. Because of his sincere and compassionate personality in relating to his friends and followers, Ch'oui was recognized from the court to the countryside.
Ch'oui lived at a crossroads in Korean history, a time of ferment in sociopolitical, religious and cultural conditions, and he created bridges between the contemplative and active life; Son, Kyo, Yul, and other practices; Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, and other religions; upper and lower classes; and traditional art and contemporary sensibility. Through his achievements, Ch'oui showed that it is not birth and social status that count. He left Korea more democratic in spirit, with less reliance on strict social stratification. Ch'oui's open and practical spirit of nondualism has been succeeded by his followers, who have served to enlighten Korean society from the end of the 19th century to the 20th century. His harmonious spirit inspires people who seek a way to deal with conflicts in a multireligious world.
