Woncheuk

Woncheuk
Korean name
Hangul	원측
Hanja	圓測
Revised Romanization	Woncheuk
McCune–Reischauer	Wŏnch'ŭk

Woncheuk (Korean: 원측; MR: Wŏnch'ŭk, c. 613–696) was a Korean Buddhist monk who worked in seventh century China.^[1] Woncheuk was a follower of Paramārtha (499-569) and the Shelun school of Yogacara. This school defended the view that there was a ninth consciousness called the "pure consciousness" (amalavijñāna), as opposed to just the eight consciousnesses of classical Yogacara. This position had been rejected by Xuanzang and Kuiji.^[2] Woncheuk later became a student of Xuanzang (ca. 600–664) and worked in his translation team.^[1] Woncheuk's works attempt to reconcile the two traditions of East Asian Yogacara and often diverges from the interpretations of Xuanzang and Kuiji in favor of the views of Paramārtha.^[1]

Woncheuk's work was revered throughout China and Korea, even reaching Chinese rulers like Emperors Taizong, Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu of Zhou.^[3] Woncheuk's exegetical work also influenced Tibetan Buddhism and the greater Himalayan region.