The first Korean Translation of the Lotus Sūtra (1463)

?The Korean document MyobÅ?b ryÅ?nhhwa’gyÅ?ng contains the first complete Korean translation of two Chinese texts, the famous Miaofalianhuajing by KumÄ?raj?va (344-413) and the Miaofalianhuajing yaojie, an associated commentary by Jiehuan, a Chan monk from the Song period. This publication was initiated by King Sejo of the ChosÅ?n dynasty (1392-1910), who intended to revitalize Buddhism in order to weaken his neo-Confucian political opponents. This document, largely unknown outside Korea, reflects some essential aspects of Korean Buddhism in the 15th century which continue to this day, notably the almost systematic reception of the Chinese Buddhist terminology, the predominance of the ecumenical spirit, and the primacy of the Zen way.?