Buddhist calligraphy by Korean Great Master Samyeong

The Calligraphy of Buddhist Monk Great Master Samyeong

At the National Museum of Korea I got the rare chance to see the calligraphy of Buddhist monk Great Master Samyeong (1544-1610) one of the most famous monks in Korea. Also known as Samyeong Daesa or Yujeong (his dharma name), he was a renowned warrior monk who recruited and led an army of Buddhist warrior monks against the Japanese during the Imjin invasions in 1592.

After the war, King Seonjo sent him to Japan (in 1604) to negotiate the return of 3,500 prisoners of war. And later, as a reward for his service, King Seonjo put him in charge of the seon and gyo schools of Buddhism.

His patriotism has even inspired a monument dedicated to him that is said to ‘weep’ when the country is in trouble! The sweating stele was erected at Pyochungsa temple in his hometown of Miryang Gyeongsangnam-do (between Daegu and Busan). And it’s said that when there’s a national crisis, drops of water start rolling down it…

Read more about King Seonjo
See the Chart of Joseon Kings and related Korean historical drama
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note on Buddhism in Korea:

Seon Buddhism was a sect of The Jogye Order which is now the largest school of Buddhism in Korea. Master Seung sahn introduced this school to the USA and some of his lectures in English have been transcribed in the book The Compass of Zen.

However, the Joseon Dynasty repressed Buddhism in favour of Confucianism, although some members of the Royal family (as well as commoners) continued to be believers. For instance, Queen Munjeong was a devout Buddhist and supported Buddhism when she ruled on her son’s behalf – King Myeongjong (r. 1545–67).

Read more about the Mid-Joseon kings and related historical dramas

PORTRAIT OF SAMYEONG

In Korean Buddhism, fighting against the enemy was considered a Buddhist practice since it was done in service for the people. So at times of crisis, monks would volunteer to join the Buddhist warrior army, motivated by patriotism and the desire to raise the status of Buddhism.

Eventually, Great Master Samyeong became a revered patriot warrior and his portrait is one of only four eminent monks who appear in the book Great Korean Portraits. Actually, there were many portraits of him over the years. But as portraits of monks are difficult to look after (due to the incense used in temples and worshipers traipsing in and out) the portraits often had to be recopied.

According to Great Korean Portraits, all the portraits are very different depending on the various painting styles, but they do all have one thing in common: a distinctive long beard! This is the portrait on display at the exhibition which is a 19th century version from Dongguk University Museum.

THE CALLIGRAPHY of SAMYEONG YUJEONG

We might imagine the calligraphy of a monk to be the epitome of serenity and calm. But Grand Master Samyeong was a warrior monk living in chaotic times. And his work is powerful. According to the information boards, he wrote these pieces in 1605 after years of dealing with the Imjin Wars and subsequent peace negotiations in Japan.

(The work is not usually on display, but on loan from Koshoji Temple in Kyoto, Japan.)

On the left (below) are verses from a poem by Choe Chi-won (857-?) from the Silla period written in Chinese characters. Great Master Samyeong is said to have written the poem to convey the unworldly nature of Koshoji temple. He wrote the poem in his own cursive script and so it’s pretty challenging to pick out the characters. Here they are with the English translation below:

畫角聲中朝暮浪
靑山影裏古今人

‘At the sound of a horn, waves roll day and night.
How many people would have passed through the shadows of the lush mountain in the past and now?’

In the work (above right) the poem written by Great Master Samyeong matches the rhymes of the poem Byeongnando Port by Yu Suk (유숙柳淑1324-1368). Here he reflects on the ten years since the Imjin Wars. (translations from National Museum of Korea)

有約江湖晩
紅塵已十年
白鷗如有意
故故近樓前

‘Although we had agreed to meet by the nature a long time ago
It has already been 10 years for me to stay in this chaotic world
As if they have not forgotten our promise
White gulls are coming closer and closer to the pavilion’ (white gulls represent a life in seclusion)

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