Han Yongun

Han Yongun was a twentieth century Korean Buddhist reformer and poet. He was born in present-day Hongsŏng in South Ch'ungch'ŏng province in Korea. He took full ordination in 1905 and devoted his life to Buddhist reformation, exploring ways of Buddhist engagement in society. He was also a critic of the Japanese colonial rule of Korea and a leader of the independence movement. He participated in the famous Tonghak Revolt of 1894, a social reform movement directed by leaders of the apocalyptic Tonghak sect. With the failure of the movement, Han escaped to Mount Solok, where he began to study Buddhism and Eastern philosophy. In 1919 he was one of the patriot signatories to the Korean Declaration of Independence and was imprisoned for three years. During his imprisonment, he composed poems and essays that expressed his love for his country and his longing for freedom. His most famous collection was Nimui Chimmuk (Lover's Silence), published in 1926. These works revolve around the ideas of equality and self-discovery and helped inspire the tendencies toward passive resistance and non-violence in the Korean independence movement. Han also wrote several works on Buddhist philosophy and reform, such as The Restoration of Korean Buddhism (1913) and Whole Mind (1918). He died in 1944 at Baekdam Temple, where he had lived in seclusion since 1896. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern Korean history and literature.