Solitary Sage: The Profound Life Wisdom and Legacy of Korea’s “Go-un” Choi Chi-won -- Text-only
David A. Mason
Publisher: Lulu.com
Summary
This E-book version is text-only, without the 140 photos, for those that want that. A complete academic biography and legacy-evaluation of Go-un Choi Chi-won (10th cen), one of Korea’s most interesting and iconic historical figures. He is considered a hero of traditional Korean Daoist, Buddhist and Confucian culture. Following a successful career as a brilliant Confucian government official in Tang China and then back in his native Gyeongju, he was one of few Koreans who achieved the highest level of Daoist sage-hood, achieving Shinseon status rather than dying as usual. There are many sites all around South Korea that claim association with him, that he was present there and accomplished some spiritual feat, or presenting veneration of his lofty reputation; some of them sites associated with him are now utilized as cultural tourist sites. It has been difficult for scholars to separate the folklore legends about his life from the solid facts, and make a coherent story out of them -- this book does that.