Kyunyo-Jon: The Life, Times and Songs of a Tenth-Century Korean Monk

Written 1074-1075, Kyunyo-jon recounts the life of one of the most significant figures in the Buddhist organization of the Koryo period. Presented here is a detailed picture of the norms and practices of Korean Buddhism in a period when Buddhism was the prevailing ethical force in society. The book is also a documentation of Korean perspectives on China and Chinese culture prior to the domination of Chinese Neo-Confucian ideology. Critical comments are made on the Korean literary world and eleven songs composed by the monk Kyunyo are included.