A study on the truth-pursuing Process in the Hanshan Poem
한산시에 나타난 구도의 과정 고찰
This study examined the poems written by a poet called Hanshan(寒山) during Tang Dynasty in China. Most of all, a focus was heavily placed on his poems with strong sense of Buddhism from all of his works. For the research method, analysis was chosen upon the pattern of truth-pursuing process in the poet throughout the four steps of devotion, commandment, samsara and nirvana. At the section of 'Devotion' in the Section 1 of Chapter 2, the space for devotion of asceticism and Zen mediation by the poet was examined. At the 'Commandment' in the Section 2, the study investigated what type of Buddhist commandment the poet abided by. At the 'Samsara' in the Section 3, the poet's perspectives on the world of Samsara with previous life, current life and after-life were examined. At the 'Nirvana' in the Section 4, the study looked into what stage of nirvana the poet accomplished.
Throughout the study described above, the study delivered the following observations upon the pattern of truth-pursuing process in the poet: First, the poet looked into his inner self by practicing meditation for a substantial time by employing the high mountains and deep valleys as his place to practice asceticism. Second, he adamantly complied with the Buddhist commandment stipulating not to covet meat, alcohol or woman. Third, he viewed eternal cycle of birth as a pain which should be escaped from through asceticism. Fourth, it was found that he attained nirvana where he leisurely enjoyed Taoism along with the nature after completely escaping from all agonies and restrictions.