From the beginning, the scriptures of Won Buddhism have moved from fluid, oral transmission toward an increasingly ordered and accessible canon, while preserving the founder Sotaesan’s essential vision. In the early period, teachings were shared mainly through sermons, letters, admonitions, and practical guidelines, with disciples gathering sayings and episodes rather than treating them as a fixed canon. This living, conversational mode of transmission gave the movement a flexible, experiential character, yet it also created a strong impulse to consolidate and clarify the teachings for future generations. The first major step in this direction was the compilation of the *Pulgyo Jeongjeon* (“Correct Canon of Buddhism”), which Sotaesan authorized as the central scripture. This text presented key doctrines, ethical guidance, and records of his life and words in a systematic, modern Korean style, signaling an intention to offer a renewed form of Buddhism grounded in everyday life.

After Sotaesan’s passing, the scriptures entered a phase of expansion and reorganization under his successor and later editors. The earlier canon was annotated, supplemented, and eventually reshaped into the *Wonbulgyo Gyojeon* (“Scriptures of Won Buddhism”), which more clearly expressed the movement’s distinct identity as Won Buddhism rather than simply a reform of traditional Buddhism. The material was arranged into major divisions—doctrinal teachings, discourses, biographical episodes of the Founding Master, and institutional rules and liturgical texts—so that practitioners could see how principle, practice, and communal life interrelate. This process did not introduce new revelations but sought to harmonize and classify what had already been given, allowing the scriptures to function as a coherent map of the path Sotaesan had opened.

Over time, the emphasis shifted from adding content to refining language and structure so that the canon could speak more clearly to contemporary readers. Archaic expressions were updated, terminology was standardized, and headings and internal references were adjusted, while care was taken not to alter the underlying doctrine. Later masters’ teachings were preserved in separate collections and commentaries, indicating a respect for the foundational status of Sotaesan’s words even as the tradition continued to unfold. As translations appeared, especially into English, the same pattern held: the basic division and numbering of the Korean scriptures were maintained, but explanatory notes and more readable phrasing were introduced to help new audiences enter the spirit of the teaching. In this way, the evolution of the Wonbulgyo scriptures reflects a balance between fidelity and adaptation—holding fast to core insights such as the unity of Buddhadharma and daily life, while continually reshaping the textual vessel so that those insights can be realized in changing circumstances.