Buddhist Culture and Political Thought in Korean History

2012 Lecture Series - Lecture 2

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Outline

• Introduction

• Buddhism Comes to Korean Peninsula

• Buddhist Influence on the Silla Dynasty

• Buddhism Flourishes During Koryo Dynasty

• Suppression Under Choson

• Japanese Colonial Rule

• Buddhism and Westernization

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Introduction

Religion and governance are intertwined

Buddhism one of most influential religions

State policies have both encouraged and restricted Buddhism

Buddhism has influenced the state both culturally and politically

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Introduction into Korea

Shamanism

Dual Leadership

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Introduction into Korea

Entered via China in 372 CE

“Three Kingdoms” period

• Goguryeo

• Bakeje

• Silla

Multi-Tribal

No National Identity

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Introduction into Korea

Monk Shundao (順道)

Texts/Statues

Rudimentary Buddhism

Easy to Adopt/Assimilate

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Buddhist Influence on Silla

Silla Dynasty 57 BCE - 935 CE

Commoners attracted first

Resistance among aristocrats

527 CE

King Pophung and The Miracle of Ichadon

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Buddhist Influence on Silla

King Pophung’s 4 Motivations

• Personal Faith

• Edification of the People

• Protection of the State

• Absorption of Buddhism

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Buddhist Influence on Silla

King Chinhung

24th Ruler

540 - 576 CE

Later Becomes Monk

Growth of Buddhism Encouraged

Hwarang “Flower Boy” System

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Buddhist Influence on Silla

Hwarang “Flower Boy” System

- Elite Male Youth

- Steeped in Buddhism

- Spiritual/Physical Training

- 5 Secular “Precepts”

- Major role in unification

Ideologically, belief and hope that the youth were incarnations

of Maitreya

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Buddhist Influence on Silla

Cakravartin Ideal

- Universal Ruler

- Emperor Ashoka as model

- Secular counterpart to Buddha

- Doctrine of Karma

- Power is legitimized

Ruler or king administers benevolently and ethically, in Silla context, according to Buddhist

ideology

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Buddhist Influence on SillaQueen Seondeok

27th Ruler of Silla

632 - 647 CE

Promulgated Buddhism

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Hoguk Pulgyo

Promote Buddhism Protect the State

Temple Construction

Foreign Monks Invited

Religious/Political Appointments

Royalty Adopt Buddhist Names

Unity of Buddhism and State

Continuation of Dual Leadership

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Buddhist Influence on Silla

Inadequacy of Shamanism

Buddhism helped justify and legitimize power

Buddhist doctrine used to centralize power, expand territorially, and unify land

Accommodated indigenous deities by reinterpretation of existing legends

Observed outside development

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Buddhism Flourishes During Koryo

918 - 1392 CE

Buddhism ascends to highest prominence and state patronage

Buddhism used as political tool

Official state ideology and religion

Tripitaka Koreana, Haein-sa 1251

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Buddhism Flourishes During Koryo

T’aejo Wanggon

Ruled 918 - 943 CE

“10 Rules of Exhortation”

Series of edicts that laid foundation for strong relationship with Buddhism

First dictate was to protect Buddhism by building monasteries, sponsoring festivals, and dispatching abbots

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Buddhism Flourishes During Koryo

Samguk Yusa

13th Century

Historiographic collection

Complied by monk Il Yeon

Inspiration for Koyro Rulers

Buddhist Folktales pointed to direct correlation between Buddhism and the welfare of the state

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Buddhism Flourishes During Koryo

“Two Wheels of Dharma”

Hoguk Pulgyo further justified

King is incorporated into a Buddhist world vision and given the role of promotor of the Dharma

One wheel wielded by King, other by the Buddha

Two wheels operate together

Not separate but interdependent

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Buddhism Flourishes During Koryo

Monk Examination System

Bureaucratic Department

Parallel to Civil Servants

Serve government through spiritual advice, ceremonies, prayers for nation

Tax Exemption

Gradual transformation into elite aristocratic organization

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Suppression under Choson

Social/Economic Changes

Mongol Empire

Koyro Disintegrates

King Taejo

1392 - 1910 CE

Ideology Shift

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Suppression under Choson

Neo-Confucianism

Critical of Buddhism on a number of levels

Buddhist teachings not appropriate for state governance

Buddhism is anti-productive

Refuge for impoverished

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Suppression under Choson

State implements new policies

Monk License System

Confiscates Buddhist Property

Temple Conversion

Exile from Cities

Buddhism loses social respect

Hoguk Pulgyo diminishes

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Japanese Colonial Rule

1910 - 1945

Buddhism vulnerable from Choson suppression

Treaty of Amity 1876

Japanese subordinate Buddhism

City Ban is repealed

Increased Secularization

1926 - Married Abbots

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Japanese Colonial Rule

Nationalist Movement

Anti-Religious Movement

Buddhism is Japanese Tool for exploitation

Further fueled by those sympathetic to Japanese

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Buddhism and Westernization

Post World War II

Republic of Korea

Sungman Lee

‘Purification Reforms’

1954 - “Japanized Buddhists”

Marginalized non-celibate monks

1961 - Law for the Control of Buddhist Properties

Police occupy temples

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Buddhism and Westernization

1970s

Buddhism is Backwards

Monks drafted into Army

Accused of violating Precepts

Forced Allegiance to Government

Dissidents and Protestors Grow

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Buddhism and Westernization

1980s - 1990s

Purged of ‘undesirable elements’

Temple Raiding

Brutalized Monks

Vandalization

Temple Burnings

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Buddhism and Westernization

Lee Myung Bak

President Since 2008

Devout Christian (Presbyterian)

12:1

Accused of blind eye

TempleStay Budget Cuts

Jogye Order Severs Communication

‘Pray for Collapse’

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Learn More!

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Next Lecture...Returning to Buddha:

History of Buddhism and Abortion in Japan

August 201230