Uicheon

Uicheon (義天, 1055-1101), also known as Daegak Guksa (大覺國師), was a Korean Buddhist monk of the Goryeo Dynasty. He was a prince of Goryeo, being the fourth son of King Munjong.

Uicheon is best known for his efforts to unify the various schools of Buddhism prevalent in Goryeo at the time. He advocated for a comprehensive approach, emphasizing both doctrinal study (kyo, or 教) and meditative practice (seon, or 禪). He believed that these two aspects of Buddhist practice were not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary and necessary for enlightenment.

To further his goal of unifying Buddhism, Uicheon traveled to Song China to collect Buddhist scriptures and commentaries. He returned with a vast collection of texts, which he used to compile the Supplement to the Tripitaka (속장경/續藏經), a massive collection of Buddhist writings that included both canonical texts and commentaries. This work was a significant contribution to the development of Korean Buddhism.

Uicheon also founded the Cheontae School (天台宗) of Korean Buddhism, based on the Tiantai tradition of China. The Cheontae School emphasized the importance of the Lotus Sutra and advocated for a comprehensive understanding of Buddhist doctrine. Although the Cheontae School did not achieve the dominance that Uicheon had hoped for, it played a significant role in shaping Korean Buddhism and fostering a more inclusive approach to Buddhist practice.

Uicheon's contributions to Korean Buddhism include his efforts to unify the various schools, his compilation of the Supplement to the Tripitaka, and his founding of the Cheontae School. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of Korean Buddhism.