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Buddhism in Korea Past and Present. Don Baker University of British Columbia. Basic Assumptions of Buddhism. “Real” means unchanging and uncaused. Yet Buddhists realize that human beings experience the “unreal world” every moment of every day.
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Buddhism in KoreaPast and Present • Don Baker • University of British Columbia
Basic Assumptions of Buddhism • “Real” means unchanging and uncaused. • Yet Buddhists realize that human beings experience the “unreal world” every moment of every day. • Therefore the purpose of Buddhism is to escape the inevitable disappointments constant changes bring, either by rising above the realm of change or by working to make sure that change moves in positive rather than a negative direction.
What is Buddhism in Korea? • Buddhism of Practice: anthropocentric • Meditative Buddhism-- dissolving belief in individual identity by stilling the mind • The wisdom of the sutras-the sacred teachings of the Buddha himself grant salvation through understanding. • Buddhism of Faith: • The ritual power of monks, and the monastic community • Pure Land Buddhism-chanting and faith in Amitabha Buddha--theocentric Buddhism • esoteric Buddhism--mantras and rituals because words and understanding are inadequate.
Philosophy or Religion? • If religion requires belief in God, then meditative Buddhism is a philosophy rather than religion. The same might be said of sutra-based Buddhism. However, the role of ritual in even philosophical Buddhism leads us to give it the “religion” label • Popular Buddhism, the Buddhism of chanting and prayer is theistic, some would even say polytheistic. That form of Buddhism, therefore, easily meets the criteria for being classified as a religion.
History of Buddhism in Korea • Reached Korea via China and Central Asia in the late 4th century (Paekche and Koguryŏ). Wasn’t accepted in Silla until the martyrdom of Ich’adon in the 6th century. • Most famous Silla monk is Wŏnhyo (617-686). Said to have brought both Pure Land chanting and Flower Garland Sutra-based Buddhism (the interconnectedness of everything) to Korea. Known for reaching enlightenment without having to leave Korea for China. • Another famous Silla monk is Chajang, who brought Buddhist relics back from China. Founded Tongdo-sa.
Buddhism and the state • In the Three Kingdoms, Mature Silla, and Koryŏ, Buddhism was supported by the state. Buddhism was valued for its ritual power, the ability it was believed to have to protect the throne. • Government-run clerical exams in Koryŏ, divided into sutra-based and meditative. • Government-promoted printing of Buddhist texts: • First book ever printed with movable metal type was a Koryŏ Buddhist text. • Koryŏ Tripitaka is the pre-modern world’s most complete collection of Mahayana texts (over 81,000 woodblocks)
Chinul (1158-1210) • Rejected state-supported Buddhism • Insisted on the need for gradual cultivation after sudden enlightenment. • Introduced the use of the Koan to Korea • Said the purpose of meditation was to “trace the radiance back to the mind” • Seen as the founder of the largest Korean order today.
Koryŏ Buddhism • Chinul The woodblocks of the Tripitaka
Buddhism in Chosŏn Korea • “Persecution”--an end to significant state support • Kiwa argues for compatibility with Confucianism • retreats to the mountains • number of denominations reduced significantly • becomes a larger part of the folk religion • monks used as a defense force. 71-year-old Monk Hyujŏng was a military commander against Japanese invaders.
Buddhism in Modern Korea • Japanese restored many temples, and protected temples and their art as national cultural treasures. • Japanese encouraged monks to marry and eat meat. • post-1945 Purification Movement • Buddhism has had to respond to the challenge of Christian proselytizing • Has now overcome its image as a religion for village women and ignorant monks.
Denominational Fragmentation • Chogye--most visible. Says it is a Sŏn (Zen) order but also has rooms in temples for chanting, prayer, sutra study, etc. • T’aego---like Chogye, except with married monks • Pomun---like T’aego and Chogye but run by nuns, not monks. • Ch’ŏnt’ae and Ch’ingak --esoteric (mantra-based) • Hanmaŭm sŏnwŏn (affiliated with Chogye) • Won Buddhism • Maum Meditation
Objects of the Buddhistspiritual gaze • Sakyamuni “Sŏkkamoni-bul) • Vairocona (Pirojana-bul) • Amitabha (Amit’a-bul) • Maitreya (Mirŭk-bul) • The Healing Buddha (Yaksayŏrae) • The Boddhisatva Guan Yin (Kwanŭm Posal)
What Buddhists do today • Meditate • Chant, usually the name of a Buddha but sometimes a mantra or a short sutra • Engage in study of the sutras • Go on a pilgrimage to sacred sites in Korea • Perform rituals (bowing 108 times, etc.) • Place little rocks around outdoor Buddhist statues. • Perform other rituals.
Folk gods in Korean temples • The hermit sage
Buddhism and death • 49 days between death and reincarnation • Mourners can go to a temple and pray that the departed will not be judged too harshly but instead will be reborn in a better state than their behavior in their past life would qualify them for. • Large temples usually have a separate building for praying for the recently departed. There are often framed photos of the dead in those halls.
Buddhism and Fengshui • Sites for many Buddhist temples are chosen according to geomantic principles (Fengshui) • Sometimes the placement of temple buildings and stupas is used to remedy geomantic deficiencies • Temples can also be used to collect geomantic energy (as in the case of Silsang-sa) • The late Silla monk Tosŏn is said to have introduced fengshui to Korea.
Buddhism and Shamanism • A shaman’s shrine
Shamanism as Buddhism • Shamans in Korea often call what they do “Buddhism” • Among the many gods they interact with are Buddhist deities, particularly the Healing Buddha. • There are some buildings in Korea that identify themselves (by their name and by the reverse swastika symbol) as a Buddhist temple but are actually a shaman shrine.
Modern types of Buddhism • Nungin Sonwon in southern Seoul
Hanmaŭm Sŏnwŏn • Founded by a charismatic nun with almost no formal education • Originally provided Buddhism for housewives--services were at 10 am, after the husband and kids had left the house for the day. • Uses colloquial rather than technical language to teach Buddhism. • Focuses on Sakyamuni only. • Is now affiliated with the Chogye order.
Won Buddhism • A new religion with Buddhist roots
Won Buddhism’s founder • Park Chungbin (1891-1943)
Unique features • Founder, often referred to as Sot’aesan, was a Korean who was active in Korea in the first half of 20th century. • Won Buddhism doesn’t worship him or any other personality, human or divine. • Won Buddhism has its own scriptures, its own rituals, and its own clerical costumes and clerical discipline. It also has a distinctive object of its spiritual gaze--- a circle (Ilwonsang) • It calls itself a new religion for a new age. Yet it also says many of its teachings are the same as those of Buddhism.
Buddhist elements • Won Buddhism accepts the mainstream Buddhist notions of karma and reincarnation. • Won Buddhism, like meditative Buddhism, is anthropocentric, teaching that we can save ourselves through our own efforts and don’t need to rely on supernatural assistance. (It also promotes meditation.) • Won Buddhism, like mainstream Buddhism, teaches that suffering arises from the way we use our minds, and that if we change the way we think, we can eliminate our suffering.
Buddhism and Korean Culture • About 24% of South Koreans call themselves Buddhists today • Temple stay vacations are becoming popular with both Koreans and foreigners. So is temple food. • Koreans talk about “karmic connections” more than Westerners do. Meditation is not seen as “exotic.” • Many Koreans who aren’t Buddhists believe in reincarnation, and go to temples to pray. • Buddhism seen as an integral part of traditional culture.
