Won-Hyo
Won-Hyo is named after the noted monk, Won-Hyo, who introduced Buddhism to the Silla
Dynasty in the year 686 C.E. (686 A.D.)
Download Instructions in PDF format
Ready Position - Closed Ready Stance A
- Move the left foot to B forming a right L-stance toward B while executing a twin
forearm block.
- Execute a high inward strike to B with the right knife-hand while bringing the left
side fist in front of the right shoulder, maintaining a right L-stance toward B.
- Execute a middle punch to B with the left fist while forming a left fixed stance
toward B, slipping the left foot to B.
- Bring the left foot to the right footand then move the right foot to A, forming
a left L-stance toward A while executing a twin forearm block.
- Execute a high inward strike to A with the left knife-hand while bringing the right
side fist in front of the left shoulder, maintaining a left L-stance toward A.
- Execute a middle punch to A with the right fist while forming a right fixed stance
toward A, slipping the right foot to A.
- Bring the right foot to the left foot and then turn the face toward D while forming
a right bending ready stance A toward D.
- Execute a middle side piercing kick to D with the left foot.
- Lower the left foot to D forming a right L-stance toward D while executing a middle
guarding block to D with a knife-hand.
- Move the right foot to D forming a left L-stance toward D while executing a guarding
block to D with a knife-hand.
- Move the left foot to D forming a right L-stance toward D while executing a middle
guarding block to D with a knife-hand.
- Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing
a middle thrust to D with the right straight finger tip.
Ki-Hap
- Move the left foot to E turning counter clockwise to form a right L-stance toward
E, at the same time executing a twin forearm block.
- Execute a high inward strike to E with the right knife-hand while bringing the left
side fist in front of the right shoulder, maintaining a right L-stance toward E.
- Execute a middle punch to E with the left fist while forming a left fixed stance
toward E, slipping the left foot to E.
- Bring the left foot to the right foot and then move the right foot to F, forming
a left L-stance toward F while executing a twin forearm block.
- Execute a high inward strike to F with the left knife-hand while bringing the right
side fist in front of the left shoulder, maintaining a left L-stance toward F.
- Execute a middle punch to F with the right fist while forming a right fixed stance
toward F, slipping the right foot to F.
- Bring the right foot to the left foot and then move the left foot to C forming a
left walking stance toward C while executing a circular block to CF with the right
inner forearm.
- Execute a low front snap kick to C with the right foot, keeping the position of
the hands as they were in 19.
- Lower the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C while executing
a middle punch to C with the left fist.
- Execute a circular block to CE with the left inner forearm while maintaining a right
walking stance toward C.
- Execute a low front snap kick to C with the left foot, keeping the position of the
hands as they were in 22.
- Lower the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C while executing
a middle punch to C with the right fist.
- Turn the face toward C forming a left bending ready stance A toward C.
- Execute a middle side piercing kick to C with the right foot.
- Lower the right foot on line CD and then move the left foot to B, turning counter
clockwise to form a right L-stance toward B, at the same time executing a middle
guarding block to B with the forearm.
- Bring the left foot to the right foot and then move the right foot to A forming
a left L-stance toward A while executing a middle guarding clock to A with the forearm.
END: Bring the right foot back to a ready posture.
Other Reources
Official ITF video for Won-Hyo Tul
General Choi instructing Won-Hyo Tul
The History Behind "Won-Hyo"
Won-Hyo (617-686 AD) was the noted Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism into the
Silla Dynasty in 686 AD. Won-Hyo was born in northern Kyongsang Province and was
said to be wise from birth. As legend has it, he was born in a forest in a Chestnut
Valley under a Sal tree. The Sal tree is significant, as reference to it is usually
only found in the legends of very revered figures.The official name of Won-Hyo,
given to him at birth, was Sol Sedang. He derived the pen name Won-Hyo (meaning
dawn) from his nickname “Sedak,” which had the same meaning. He assumed this pen
name in later years after he had become more accomplished as a Buddhist philosopher
and poet.
Won-Hyo began his career at the age of 20 when he decided to enter the Buddhist
priesthood and converted his own home into a temple. However, Buddhism was not a
popular religion in Silla at that time. Although this religion had been introduced
into the kingdom of Koguryo in 372 AD and Paekche in 384 AD, the general population
of Silla was reluctant to accept it.
However, this religious isolation was to change during the 7th century. At that
time, Silla was at war with the kingdoms of Packche and Koguryo and was under constant
invasion from Paekche. In 642 AD, it lost 40 castles to Packche attacks, including
the great castle of Taeya near the capital of Silla. This atmosphere dramatically
influenced the Buddhist faith of all three kingdoms. Religion became more nationalistic,
which tended to intensify the ferocity of the conflicts.
To accelerate the development of this type of national spirit in Silla, King Pop-Hung
wanted to officially recognize Buddhism in 527 A.D. He tried to establish it as
an official state religion in the area around Kyongju. The attempt was met with
strong opposition by members of the court. In 528 AD, these members of the court
pressured the King into agreeing to the execution of a 22 year old monk named Ichadon
to convince them that Buddhism was worthwhile religion. Ichadon’s death for his
belief in Buddhism resulted in stories of his blood at the execution being white
as milk. These stories made him a martyr so the King issued a royal mandate that
granted freedom of Buddhist belief. Shortly afterward, Buddhism was accepted by
the people. In later years, King Hun-Duk named Ichadon as one of the ten sacred
monks of Silla. The study of Buddhism during the reign of King Pop-Hung required
the ability to read and write Chinese, so serious study was still confined mainly
to monks and the aristocratic population.
Unfortunately, not many places were open for a serious Buddhist student to study
in Silla. Therefore, in 650 AD, Won-Hyo and the noted monk Ui-Sang, like other monks
of the time, set out to study Buddhism in China. The overland journey took them
to Liaotung in Koguryo. Mistaken as spies along the way by several Koguryo sentries,
they barely escaped captivity and were able to return to Silla. There is no further
record of Won-Hyo travelling to China to study, although one more attempt was made
shortly after Packche was defeated in 660 AD by Silla and Tang troops from China.
However, such study was not necessary because wisdom was Won-Hyo’s from birth and
he did not need a teacher. Therefore, he became the only monk of his time who did
not study in China.
The many monks who did study in China had a broad impact on the religious culture
of the Korean peninsula. In fact, there were at least five main sects of Buddhism
being practiced in Silla during this period: Kyeyul, Yulban, Chinpyo, Popsong, and
Hwaom. Chinpyo and Popsong were introduced by Won-Hyo with Popsong, being based
upon Hwajong-non (Treatise on the Harmonious Understanding of the Ten Doctrines)
from which Won-Hyo’s posthumous title of “Hwajong Kuksa” was derived. Won-Hyo was,
in fact, the most influential of the many monks of the 7th century. He used his
power in an attempt to unify the five existing sects and reduce their constant sectarian
rivalries.
Won-Hyo is also considered to be one of the most prolific writers in all of the
Buddhist countries of his time, his works include over 100 different kinds of literature
consisting of about 240 volumes. Unfortunately, only 20 works within a total of
25 volumes have survived. One of the forms he chose to use was a special Silla poetic
form, Hyang-Ga, These poems were mainly written by monks or members of the Hwarang
and concerned patriotism, Buddhism, and praise of the illustrious dead. Won-Hyo’s
poem “Hwaorm-Ga” is said to be among the most admired of these poems.
Won-Hyo’s writing was not the only area in which he gained recognition. He was well-known
both to the general population and to the members of the royal family and their
court. He was often asked to conduct services, recite prayers, and give sermons
at the royal court. In 660 AD, King Muyo became so interested in Won-Hyo that he
asked him to come and live in the royal palace of Yosok. A relationship with the
royal princess Kwa developed and was soon followed by their marriage and the birth
of their son Sol-Chong.
Shortly after his son was born, Won-Hyo left the palace and began travelling the
country. He was recognized as a great scholar by the Dang Dynasty of China, although
he never studied there, and he was highly respected by the people of Korea. He hated
that different religions argued with each other over their different beliefs, so
he created his own ideology in which the conflicts between various religions could
be reconciled. In 661 AD, he experienced a revelation in his Buddhist philosophy
and developed the Chongto-Gyo (Pure Land) sect. This sect did not require study
of the Chinese Buddhist literature for salvation, but merely diligent prayer. His
belief was that one could obtain salvation, or enter the “Pure Land”, by simply
praying. This fundamental change in Buddhist philosophy made religion accessible
to the lower classes. It soon became very popular among the entire population. However,
his most remarkable achievements were his efforts in relieving the poverty and suffering
of ordinary people. In 662 AD, Won-Hyo left the priesthood and devoted the rest
of his life to travelling the country teaching this new sect to the common people.
Won-Hyo’s contributions to the culture and national awareness of Silla were instrumental
in the unification of the three kingdoms of Korea.
Won-Hyo died in 686 AD and was laid in state by his son Sol-Chong in Punhwang-Sa
temple. He had seen the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea in his own lifetime
and had helped to bring about a brilliant culture in Korea through his efforts in
Buddhist philosophy. He had a profound influence on quality of life in Silla and
on Buddhism in Korea, China, and Japan.