Hamheo was originally a Confucian scholar of the highest reputation, but he converted to Buddhism at the age of 21 upon the death of a close friend. He wandered among the Korean mountain monasteries, until he had the fortune of becoming the disciple of the last Korean National Teacher Muhak. Gihwa's writings showed a distinctive mixture between iconoclastic and suddenistic Chan language, and a strong appreciation for the scriptural tradition. Thus, he took up from Jinul the tradition of unification of Seon and Gyo Buddhism. Among his writings, there are four works in particular that made a deep impact on the subsequent Seon tradition in Korea. These are: (1) his commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, the Weongakkyeong hae seoreui; (2) his redaction and subcommentary to five famous earlier commentaries on the Diamond Sūtra, the Geumgang panyaparamilgyeong ogahae seoreui; (3) his subcommentary and redaction of the Collection of Yongjia, the Yonggajip gwaju seoreui. As a result of his fourth major work (4) the Hyeonjeong non; Hamheo distinguishes himself as being the primary Buddhist respondent to the rising Neo-Confucian polemic of his period, as he responds with vigor to the Neo-Confucian criticisms of Buddhism. Hamheo passed away while residing at Jeongsu-sa , located at the southern tip of Ganghwa Island, where his tomb can still be visited.