After the Second World War, studies on Silla Buddhism developed in Japan and South Korea without any interaction between scholars of the two countries, until diplomatic relations were established with the signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea in 1965. Consequences of this lack of interaction spanning two decades have still not been overcome. The difference in dominant views on when Wŏnhyo 元暁 (617–686) and Ŭisang 義湘 (625–702) were ordained is a case in point. This paper focuses on three views prevalent in Japan: that Wŏnhyo was ordained at the age of 29; that he was ordained around the age of 15; and that Ŭisang was ordained at the age of 20. Analyses of these views reveal that they are based on inadequate basic research, such as misreading and omissions in reading classical Chinese text. This makes it clear why all three views have been denied as groundless in Korea.
