[KS] Discovery of the oldest Korean text

[Dane Alston]

Dear list members,

I would like to bring to your attention an article appearing on the 
Chosun Ilbo web site.

Professor Ch'oe Yon-sik (최연식, 崔鉛植) of Mokpo University, in 
conjunction with Dr. Jörg Plassen from Bochum University in Germany, are 
reported to have found in Kyoto University library a Buddhist commentary 
that predates the literature of Wonhyo and Wonch'uk. The work titled 
/Taesung saronhyon uigi /(대승사론현의기, 大乘四 論玄義記) is said to be 
the work of monk Hyegyun (혜균, 慧均) and is thought to be the earliest 
extant piece of Korean literature. Hyegun was originally thought to have 
been a Chinese monk but recently he has been identified as coming from 
Paekche. The discovery of this new text is no doubt equally exciting for 
researchers of pre-modern Korean literature, as it is for scholars of 
Korean Buddhist and intellectual/religious history. One only wonders 
what other gems are waiting to be found in Japanese libraries!

For those who are interested, refer to the following article for more 
information:
http://www.chosun.com/culture/news/200610/200610160058.html

Yours,

Dane Alston

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