Ŭich’ŏn, Jingyuan, and ritual repentance in the revival of Huayan Buddhism in the Northern Song period

Abstract

ABSTRACT The writings of the Koryŏ monk Ŭich’ŏn 義天 (1055–1101) provide insight into the nature of Buddhism during the Northern Song period. Ŭich’ŏn was closely affiliated with Jinshui Jingyuan 晉水淨源 (1011–1088) and evidence for Huayan-oriented ritual repentance practices is found in Ŭich’ŏn’s Collected Works (Taegak kuksa munjip 大覺國師文集) and other writings. An examination of the four extant Huayan repentance manuals composed by and/or attributed to Jingyuan (X 1476, X 1472, X 1473, and X 1477), in the context of Ŭich’ŏn’s writings, allows for the following assertions: Repentance practices were as popular in East Asia in the Northern Song period as they were in medieval China. Although Jingyuan clearly wanted to simplify the prolix and complex liturgies composed by Guifeng Zongmi 圭峰宗密 (780–841) and Qingliang Chengguan 淸涼澄觀 (738–839) in the mid-Tang period and make them accessible to monks and lay people, he was appreciably influenced by the structure of the rituals composed by Tiantai Zhiyi 天台智義 (538–597) and, especially, Zunshi 遵式 (964–1032). Jingyuan composed them so adherents to the Huayan tradition could practice Huayan-oriented repentance rites instead of Tiantai-style rituals.