. esoteric buddhism under the chosn 643
convincing attempts at establishing doctrinal common ground for Sŏn
and Esoteric Buddhist practice can be found in the comprehensive
manual on the correct usage and pronunciation of mantras, the Chinŏn
chip.^51 This manual has long since captured the interest of Western
philologists working on the medieval Korean language, including the
use of the early version of Han’gul, the Korean alphabet. However,
very few have noted the highly illuminating introduction attributed
to Yongam Chŭngsuk (fl. eighteenth century).^52 As we shall
see below, this introduction, including the postface and preface, are
particularly illuminating in relation to the practical harmonization
of Esoteric Buddhism and Sŏn during the later part of the Chosŏn
dynasty.
The primary intent of the introduction to the revised edition of the
Chinŏn chip is to provide a discussion and formulation of what may
be called “the science of sound and letters,” a Buddhist hermeneu-
tic presentation of the significance and usage of mantras, dhāraṇīs,
and Siddham script. Although the focus of this introduction is on
the spiritual meaning of the “true words” (the mantras), including
their relation to the canonical scriptures, we find lengthy passages
in which the relationship and correspondence between mantric lore
and Sŏn practice are set forth. Here it is interesting to note that the
overall tone of the introduction is replete with Sŏn, Chŏngt’o, and
Hwaŏm terminology such as “One Mind” (ilsim ), “accomplish-
ing awakening” (yoŏ ), “empty stillness” (kongjŏk ), “bodhi
of great emptiness” (taegong poje ), “the complete and
sudden gates” (wŏndon mun ), “mind contemplation” (simg-
wan ), “the sixteen wonderful visualizations” (sipyuk myŏgwan
(^51) The original preface of the 1569 edition from Ansim Temple can be found in the
Chosŏn pulgyo t’ŏngsa Yi 1918–1979, 3:162–63. The edition referred to is the one with
a colophon by the monk Sŏrun (n.d.), first published at Ansim Temple in 1569.
See Sørensen 1991–1992a, 159–200, entry no. 9. See also the facsimile of this edition,
which was re-published some thirty years ago in Seoul. It is now extremely rare and
the reader may choose to consult the modern, revised, but hand-written version with
romanization of the Sanskrit as published by Poryŏngak in Seoul, 1987. 52
Details on his life are wanting. From the preface to the Manyŏn Temple edition
of the Chinŏn chip (1777) we are told that he lived in Manyŏn Temple in Hwasŭn-gun,
South Chŏlla province, and that he transmitted the Esoteric Buddhist teachings to his
disciple, the Sŏn master Paek’am (n.d.). Chinŏn chip, pp. 1–2.