Person

Doui

Monk who brought Seon (Chan) Buddhism from Tang in 821 and is honoured as founder of the Gajisan school

He went to Tang in 784, studied Seon (the Southern school of Chan) and returned in 821, but in Gyeongju, where doctrinal schools were strong, his teaching was not accepted, and he withdrew to Jinjeonsa on Seoraksan. His teaching passed through his disciple Yeomgeo to Chejing, who opened the Gajisan school at Borimsa in Jangheung. Seon, which valued meditation over scripture, was welcomed by local hojok and head-rank-six aristocrats.

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2 related events

1
AD 821 – AD 935Spread of Seon Buddhism and Rise of the Hojokleader
In late Silla, Seon (meditation) Buddhism spread through the Nine Mountain Schools and geomancy became popular; regional magnates (hojok) drew on both as they rose to power.
2
AD 850Three-story Stone Pagoda at the Jinjeonsa Temple Site, Yangyangrelated figure
A late Unified Silla pagoda at the temple where Doui, who brought Seon from Tang, lived. The Eight Guardians on its base and Buddhas on its first story show the period’s taste for carved decoration.

People who appear alongside

DoseonAD 827 – AD 898
Late Silla Seon monk who popularized geomancy (pungsu jiri) and is said to have foretold the birth of Wang Geon

Themes this person appears in

Changes in PagodasAD 634 – 1467
From Baekje stone pagodas copying timber ones and Silla pagodas copying brick ones, to Unified Silla three-story pagodas and stupas, Goryeo multi-sided pagodas and Yuan-influenced marble towers