Wŏnhyo’s Theory of Hwajaeng and Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

This article examines Buddhist-Christian dialogue through the hwajaeng theory of Wŏnhyo (617–686 CE), one of the greatest masters in the history of Korean Buddhism. Considered a cosmological explanation of existences in the universe, his theory of hwajaeng lays a great emphasis on the harmony of all existences in their mutual non-obstruction. Through Wŏnhyo’s theory of hwajaeng, I argue that the different principles and religious doctrines addressed by Buddhism and Christianity are not antagonistic but creative sources for each other.

Wŏnhyo’s hwajaeng theory is significant for understanding the paradoxical nature of language, which necessitates the metaphorical understanding of religious scriptures and doctrinal propositions to keep opening one’s religious knowledge and faith. Wŏnhyo’s hwajaeng theory espouses the significance of both the insider’s and outsider’s views. The insider (emic) viewpoint is necessary because it gives inside information about the beliefs and traditions within a religious tradition. The outsider (etic) viewpoint is also important because it illustrates how other people view one’s own religion and how it relates to others. I contend that taking the insider’s and outsider’s views promotes affirmation and negation toward the way of integration, which is in proportion to Wŏnhyo’s hwajaeng method to be continuously constructed through others.