DDB: 李資玄 | I Jahyeon

Digital Dictionary of Buddhism

李資玄

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: I Jahyeon

Senses:

(1061–1125) A typical mid-Goryeo period Buddhist devotee and hermit/scholar. His pen names were Sig-am 息庵 and Hui-ija 希夷子, and his original name was Jinjeong 眞精 and his family seat was in Inju 仁州, present-day Incheon. He was born the eldest son of Prime Minster Yi Ui 李顗 during the time of Munjong. At the age of 23 he became a presented scholar 進士 (someone who has passed the first level of examinations for public office), and at 27 he joined the Daeakseoseung 大樂署丞, but in 1089 he abandoned his government career and retired to Munsuwon 文殊院 on Cheongpyeongsan 淸平山. Cheongpyeongsan was originally known as Gyeongunsan 慶雲山 but had become Dogamchangsa 道監倉使 of Chuncheon. Yi Ui came to this area and constructed Bohyeonwon 普賢院 at the old temple site. Yi Jahyeon corrected the name of the mountain to Cheongpyeongsan and largely repaired Bohyeonwon opened by Yi Ui. This is where he resided and its name was changed to Munsuwon because it was said that the divine blessings of Mañjuśrī bodhisattva twice appeared there. Aside from this, he initiated the construction of around ten Buddha halls, hermitages, pavilions and so forth neighboring the temple. One Buddha hall was called Munseongam 聞性庵, and two of the hermitage were called Gyeonseongam 見性庵 and Seondongsikam 仙洞息庵. He stayed at Munsuwon concentrating on Seon studies for 37 years until he passed away. In particular, he focused on the Seolbong eorok 雪峰語錄 and Laṅkâvatāra-sūtra 楞嚴經 and he was also in communication with Hyeso Jeonghyeon 惠炤鼎賢 and Daegam 大鑑; Daegam even decided to become Yiʼs disciple. King Yejong praised his contributions to society and twice summonsed him by sending retainers so as to meet him, to which he declined saying, "When one crosses a river, they cannot forsake their mind." However in 1117 he had an audience with the king at Namgyeong 南京, otherwise known as Hanseong 漢城, and after they discussed the virtues of goodness he stayed briefly at Cheongnyangsa 淸凉寺 where he composed his Mind Essentials 心要. Even after he returned to Munsuwon, King Yejong continued to support him and in 1121 his younger brother Yi Jadeok 李資德 was sent to the mountains to open special lectures on the Laṅkâvatāra-sūtra. King Injong also greatly respected Yi and when he ascended to the throne he immediately sent an envoy enquiring as to his health and when his illness failed to alleviate Injong sent the national physician. Yi was a typical example of Buddhist hermit/devotees 居士佛教 during the Goryeo period. He died at the age of 65 in 1125. The king bestowed the posthumous name of Jillak-gong 眞樂公. His writings include the Simyo 心要 (1 fasc.), Seongi eorok 禪機語錄 (1 fasc.), Namyusi 南遊詩 (1 fasc.), Chuhwa baegyakdo si 追和白藥道詩 (1 fasc.), Podaesong 布袋頌 (1 fasc.), none of which are extant. 〔동문선, 破閑集, 高麗史〕 [Dane Alston; source(s): hbis]

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[Dictionary References]

Han'guk bulgyo inmyeong sajeon (Yi) 240

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Entry created: 2005-12-05

Updated: 2006-12-31