He traveled to China, studying at Mt. Zhongnan as a student of the influential Huayan master Zhiyan (智儼) and as a senior colleague of Fazang (法藏). He became an expert in Huayan (華嚴) doctrine and was the founder of the Korean Hwaeom school.
He was famous as a temple builder. Most well-known among his writings is the Hwaeom ilseung peopkye to (Chart of the Avata ṃsaka Single Vehicle Dharmadhātu) (華嚴一乘法界圖).