What is Korean Buddhism?

When Buddhism first came from China to the Korean Peninsula in 372 C.E., Shamanism – an ancient belief system of animism and nature‑spirit worship – was the indigenous religion. Based on the conviction that human beings as well as natural forces and inanimate objects all possess spirits, Shamanism was not seen to be in conflict with Buddhism and so many of the special mountains believed to be the residences of spirits in pre‑Buddhist times, soon became the sites of Buddhist temples.

   Korean Shamanism regarded three gods with special reverence and importance: the Mountain God, Sanshin (who is usually depict­ed as an old man with a tiger at his feet), Toksong, or the recluse, and Ch'ilsong (the Big Dipper). Buddhism accepted and absorbed these three gods and, even today, special shrines are set aside for them in most tem­ples.

   And so Chinese Buddhism blended with Korean Shamanism to produce a unique form: Korean Buddhism. As in other Buddhist countries, the fundamental teachings of the Buddha remained the same, even though the form became uniquely Korean.

History

Although there is evidence of earlier introductions of Buddhism, a northern Chinese monk, Sundo, definitively brought statues and texts to the northern kingdom of Goguryeo in 372 CE. Then in 384 CE, Malananda, an Indian monk, traveled to Baekje. Buddhism was easily accepted in both Goguryeo and Baekje and the kings supported it by building temples and many monks were ordained.  Silla was slow to receive the new teaching. There the royal family was the last to become Buddhists. In 527 CE, the minister I'chadon told the king that he was a Buddhist and was beheaded. When his head was cut off, milk poured out instead of blood (you can sometimes see a painting of this on temple walls); the court was impressed by the miracle. Quickly Silla developed. In 668 CE, the Korean peninsula was united under Silla and a golden age followed with some of the greatest art in the world (Sokkuram Buddha in Gyeonju) being created.

   The glory of the Silla Dynasty slowly declined and in 935 CE, the Goryeo Period began. Although the kings were Buddhists, they concentrated on ceremonies. This increased until the people began to look for something new and so turned to neo-Confucianism, a system which dominated the new Joseon Dynasty from 1392 CE. Thus a dark period began for Buddhism during which monks were badly persecuted, though with occasional respite. During the darkest times, however, scholars still studied in the temples and the monks were learned. However, Buddhism suffered a lot and the number of the monks diminished.

   In 1910, the Japanese colonized Korea and they remained until 1945. They brought their own married monks with them and so all the large temples in Korea came to be inhabited by married monks.

   After Independence, there was a steady increase in celibate monks.  Many men and women were ordained and they took back most temples from the married monks.

     Today there are many different orders of Korean Buddhism; however by far the largest is the Jogye Order counting over 2,500 temples about 12,000 ordained members and at least 10 million registered lay people. Today, more and more people are studying Buddhism because it is an important part of Korean culture.

Temple Life

Throughout its long history, Korean Buddhism has been concentrated in the temples, the temple lifestyle, and its relationship with all people. Young men and women who feel inspired to do so, leave home and go to live in a temple community. There they receive ordination in which they accept to try their best to live by basic precepts which embody the values of gentleness, honesty and goodwill.

     From late Silla on, Korean Buddhism was dominated by the Seon School, which emphasizes meditation. The founder was Bodhidharma, an Indian monk who went to China in 530 CE.  The word Seon comes from the Indian word for meditation: Dhyana. In China it changed to Ch'an, in Korea to Seon and in Japan to Zen. Even today, whenever you meet a great monk in Korea, he will tell you to go and meditate!

Main Features of Korean Buddhism

Throughout its long history, certain principles have been central to Korean Buddhism.

1. The Bodhisattva Principle

     From the very beginning, the way of the Bodhisattva became a central feature of Korean Buddhism. A Bodhisattva is a being who sets aside his or her own final enlightenment in order to help all beings, for he or she is the perfection of altruism, wisdom and compassion and the embodiment of the Six Perfections: Generosity, Good Conduct, Vigor, Patience, Meditation, and Wisdom.

2. Unification

     Buddhism was the main force by which the peninsula was united in 668 C.E. under Silla. After unification, social harmony, so necessary in the building of defenses against the constant invasions, was fostered by Buddhism. It was Buddhist monks who came to the rescue of the country in the 16th century by routing the Japanese invaders. All through the history of Korea, Buddhism has taught the unity of all things in the universe.

3. Openness

     As elsewhere, Buddhism arrived on the peninsula and readily absorbed the indigenous culture. Even today, new elements are constantly being absorbed. Not only are there new novels and songs being created, but traditional customs and food are very popular at the moment. Buddhist stories are carefully woven into all kinds of popular plots in films and on TV shows as well. Total tolerance and openness is the position of most Buddhists towards other philosophies and religions.

Korean Buddhism’s Influence on the People

Buddhism is deeply woven into the spirit and culture of the Korean people. From the landscape to the customs and special events to daily life, Buddhist principles permeate Korean life.

     The entire peninsula is dotted with special places. These ancient sites were chosen for temples and pagodas partly because they are believed to bring peace and prosperity to the nation and partly because they are beautiful.

     Koreans tend to live with more consideration for the group than for the individual. Thus harmony at (almost) any price – even if it demands a certain amount of sacrifice by the individual – is central to Korean life. Many non-Buddhists will go to temples for festivals and many Buddhists will have a Christmas tree in their homes, for example. As far as daily life is concerned, take a simple example like giving and receiving gifts. In Korea, you never open a gift when you receive it, only when you return home. Because the appreciation – or not – of the gift might spoil the beauty of the act of generosity!

     There are two outstanding Buddhist symbols which you see everywhere – subway railings, ceilings of older buildings, floors – which are particularly interesting. The first is the very ancient swastika. Originally it is a symbol of peace, but, as we all know, it was used for the diametrically opposite reason. Somehow, when used for violence, it was also reversed in direction!

The second symbol is the lotus, very dear to the hearts of all Buddhists. The lotus is the symbol of purity – growing up from the mud – and emancipation – opening into the sunlight. When a candle is put inside, it represents wisdom. Almost all Buddhas are represented sitting on a lotus and, if you are lucky, you will be able to enjoy the multitude of lovely lotus lanterns – unique to Korea – made each year for the main yearly Buddhist festival, the Buddha’s Birthday. Held on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month (about the end of April, beginning of May) every year, Koreans believe that this is the day on which the Buddha Sakyamuni was born in northeastern India over 2,500 years ago. (The Buddhist year is actually calculated from the Buddha's death. As he died at the age of 80, then he was born 80 years before the Buddhist year, really.) The Buddha was a man who spent his life teaching anyone who was interested in how to understand reality. He taught people how to develop from a state of ignorance into true wisdom, symbolized by the lotus lanterns. Each year there is a huge parade in central Seoul and all temples have their own festivals as well. You are welcome to participate in as many events as you wish.