Wonhyo
Wŏnhyo (Chinese: 元曉; Korean: 원효; 617 – 686, meaning: "Dawnbreak") was one of the most important philosophers and commentators in East Asian Buddhism and the most prolific scholar in Korean Buddhism. As one of the most eminent scholar-monks in East Asian history, his extensive literary output runs to over 80 works in 240 fascicles. His most influential commentaries are those on buddha-nature texts like the *Vajrasamādhisūtra, the Awakening of Faith, and the Mahāparinivāṇasūtra. These works became classics widely respected throughout Korea, China and Japan.
Wonhyo | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 원효 |
| Hanja | 元曉 |
| Revised Romanization | Wonhyo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Wŏnhyo |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 설사 |
| Hanja | 薛思 |
| Revised Romanization | Seol Sa |
| McCune–Reischauer | Sŏl Sa |
| Courtesy name | |
| Hangul | 서당 or 신당 |
| Hanja | 誓幢 or 新幢 |
| Revised Romanization | Seodang or Sindang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Sŏdang or Sindang |
Wonhyo's work was foundational for all of Korean Buddhism and also influenced Buddhism in other East Asian nations. Chinese masters who were heavily influenced by Wonhyo include Huayan masters like Fazang, Li Tongxuan, and Chengguan. The Japanese monks Gyōnen, Zenshu and Joto of the Kegon school were also influenced by him.