THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF BUDDHISM IN KOREA
Edited by THE KOREAN BUDDHIST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
PREFACE
This is book about the history of Buddhism and its impact and influence on the artistic, educational and political development of the people of Korea.
Over the last 2.500 years, Buddhism has spread throughout Asia. Wherever Buddhism has been accepted, it has developed affecting and integrating with the indigenous culture. The result has been a unique form of Buddhism in each country, even though the basic tenets and ideas remain the same.
Due to the proximity of China to the Korean peninsula Chinese culture has greatly influenced all faces of Korean life. Buddhism is no exception. Successive generations of Korean masters went to China and learned Buddhism and culture and they returned to their homeland bearing their experiences with them. Little by little, Korean masters developed the ideas that they had received and so Korean Buddhism was born. Mary masters then went on to influence the development of Buddhism in China.
This book has a general introduction and five chapters each one concerned with bone of the man periods of history. It starts off by looking at the introduction of Buddhism to the peninsula and its subsequent development during the Three Kingdoms period. The next section deals with the unification of the peninsula in 668 C.E. when Buddhism developed rapidly in the Unified Shilla period. The 3rd section considers Buddhism during the Koryo period (935-1392). The following section is concerned with the Choson Dynasty (1392-1910) during which Buddhism was largely persecuted. The modern period covers the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) and more recent developments. Each chapter was written by a specialized scholar, all professors at Dongguk University.
CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction: Buddhism from India to Korea
I. Buddhism in the Three Kingdom
1. Ancient Korean Culture & the Beginning of Korean Buddhism
2. Buddhism in Koguryo Kingdom
3. Buddhism in Paekchen Kingdom
4. Buddhism in Shilla Kingdom
5. Monk`s Positions & Temple Servants
6. Buddhist Culture of the Three Kingdoms
7. Buddhism in Karak (Kaya) Kingdom
II. The Unified Shilla Period: the Golden Age of Buddhism
1. The Unification of the Three Kingdom
2. The Research of Mahayana Buddhism & Education
3. Development of study on Buddha Land
4. Research into Mahayana Buddhism of Master Tachyon
5. Disciplines of Repentance & Education of Master Chimp`yo
6. the Research of Shilla Scholar-Monks
III. The History & Culture of Buddhism in the Koryo
1. Characteristics of Koryo Buddhism
2. The Policy of Encouraging Buddhism
3. Establishment & Development of Various Buddhist Orders
4. Buddhist Publication & the Koryo Tripitaka
5. Buddhism Under the Domination of the Yuan Dynasty
6. Buddhist Arts
7. Conclusion
IV. Buddhism undergoes Hardship: Buddhism in the Choson Dynasty
1. Government Policy of Practicing Confucianism, the Rejection of Buddhism & the Change of the Buddhist Orders
2. Buddhist Work to Encourage Buddhism & Great Monks of the Time
3. National Crisis & Monks` Army
4. Buddhist Samgha in the Late Choson Dynasty
5. Buddhist Culture Achieved the Capital
6. Conclusion
V. Buddhism in Modern Korea
1. Development of Korean Buddhism in Modern Times
2. Recent Korean Son Masters
3. Buddhist Education
4. Future Prospects for Korean Buddhism
Dynastic Lineages
Bibliography
Index