Also known as Wontong 圓通, it is said he was so ugly at birth that he received no love from his parents and at the age of fifteen followed his elder cousin Seongyun 善均 to join the order at Bokheungsa 復興寺. After this he studied under Uisun 義順 at Yeongtongsa 靈通寺, located behind Bokheungsa. At that time the Hwaeom school was split into opposing factions: (1) the Nam-ak faction 南嶽, centering around Jirisan 智異山 represented by Gwanhye 觀惠 with the support of Gyeonhwon 甄萱 of the late Baekje and, (2) the Bug-ak faction 北嶽, centering around Jeongsoksa 淨石寺 and originating from Huirang 希郞 and supported by King Taejo. While staying at Haeinsa 海印寺 Gyunyeo worked together with Inyu 仁裕 to bring about a conciliation of these two factions through persuading both major temple monks and lay persons. He wrote extensively with the aim of articulating the Hwaeom teaching, while also attempting to explain the Buddhist doctrine in simple language. One of the ways he did this was by trying to popularize Buddhism through writing folk songs. He was also reputed to be a thaumaturge. In 958 during the reign of King Gwangjong he became the chief examiner 試官 of newly established monastic examination system 僧科 at Wangyunsa 王輪寺, contributing to the spread and practice of Hwaeom studies by helping with the selection of most outstanding monks. At one stage he stayed at Mahagapsa on Ogwansan 五冠山 and in 963, after Gwangjongʼs conversion and the establishment of Gwibeopsa 歸法寺 near Song-ak 松岳, Gyunyeo became head priest of this temple and was very actively involved in teaching. He passed away on June 17, 973 at the age of fifty-one. Among his disciples were Damnim 曇琳 and Jo 肇. His works include:

Bohyeon sipjong won wangsaeng ga.  普賢十種願往生歌 (11 pages; extant)

Gongmok jang gi.  孔目章記 (8 fasc.; not extant)

Hwaeom sambo jang wontong gi.  華嚴三寶章圓通記 (2 fasc.; extant)

Ilseung beopgyedo wontong gi.  一乘法界圓通記 (2 fasc.; extant)

Ip beopgye pum chogi.  入法界品抄記 (1 fasc.; not extant)

Osip yo mundap gi.  五十要問答記 (4 fasc.; not extant)

Seok hwaeom jigwi wontong cho.  釋華嚴旨歸圓通鈔 (2 fasc.; extant)

Seok hwaeomgyo bungi wontong cho.  釋華嚴教分記圓通鈔 (10 fasc.; extant)

Sipgu jang wontong gi.  十句章圓通記 (2 fasc.; extant)

Suhyeon banggwe gi.  搜玄方軌記 (10 fasc.; not extant)

Tamhyeon giseok.  探玄記釋 (28 fasc.; not extant)

Later, in 1075 Jinsa Hyeongnyeonjeong 進士 赫連挺 wrote the Dae Hwaeom sujwa Wontong yangjung daesa Gyunyeo jeon, within which is the “Bohyeon sipjong wonwang saengga” which is useful not only for understanding Hwaeom philosophy, but is also a valuable resource for studying ancient Korean and poetry. This has been translated by Buzo and Prince as listed below. 〔大華嚴수좌圓通양중大士 均如傳, 均如大士研究[양재연, 中央大學校 論文集 4], 均如[김종우, 韓國의 인간상 5]〕

Buzo, Adrian, and Tony Prince, trans. 1994. Kyunyŏ-jŏn: The Life, Times and Songs of a Tenth-Century Korean Monk. Honolulu:  Hawai`i University Press.