Buddhism has helped form the roots of East Asian culture and thought. Yet many Westerners know very little about Korean Buddhism. Most of the time, they just assume that maybe it’s more or less the same as Chinese or Japanese Buddhism, which is unfortunate. The unique art and thought of Korean Buddhism has blossomed over the years, and many Buddhist scholars and practitioners around the world are now deeply interested in learning about it.
The first book is about Buddhist thought. Written by Keel Hee-sung, Korea’s foremost scholar on comparative religion, Chinul: The Founder of the Korean Seon Tradition sheds light on the work of the Buddhist monk, Chinul, who was an influential figure during the Goryeo period (918-1392). According to the author, Chinul acknowledged multiple paths to achieving nirvana – purifying the heart through constant effort, getting there through sudden realization, reaching enlightenment by absorbing oneself intently in a single subject, or through intensive study of Buddhist scriptures. Chinul believed that such diverse paths had to be pursued in combination with each other. This suggests that both Chinul and Korean Buddhism are characterized by inclusiveness and synthesis.
In addition, Buddhist art and architecture are inseparable from traditional Korean art. The large number of Buddhist cultural assets found among Korean cultural assets attests to this fact. The Story and Architecture of the Korean Buddhist Temple, written by Kim Bongryol, an expert in traditional Korean architecture, with photographs by the Buddhist monk, Kwan Jo, is both an essay and a travel account of the beauty of Korean Buddhist architecture. The buildings, gardens, and overall spatial arrangement of existing Korean temples guide the way around these aesthetically accomplished places. In general, Korean Buddhist architecture is characterized by harmony with nature. This is different from Chinese and Japanese Buddhist architecture, which has an artificial aesthetic. With wonderful photographs by Kwan Jo, a photographer who has won recognition in both Korea and other countries, the book itself a beautiful work of art.