Transformation of the status of Buddhism on the Korean peninsula during the periods of Goryeo (918-1392) and the first half of Joseon (1392-1600)

Abstract

The Goryeo period (918-1392) was a period of flourishing for Buddhism, when it became the dominant ideology along with Confucianism. During the 10th-14th centuries, Buddhism retained its position as the state religion. The Buddhist clergy became one of the largest landowners in the country and influenced not only the spiritual, but also the political sphere, carrying out decisions beneficial to themselves through the royal administration.

However, in the first half of the Joseon era (1392-1600), the position of Buddhism began to weaken. The first rulers of Joseon were opponents of the Buddhist religion, which is confirmed by written sources created during this period: the polemical work “Bulssi Japbyeon”, directed against the teachings of Buddha, and the dynastic chronicle “Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty”.

By the end of the 16th century, references to Buddhism disappear from the dynastic chronicles. After the Imjin War (1592-1598), there are no records about any Buddhist rituals, but monks are often mentioned in the context of monastic militias.

By the mid — 17th century, the Buddhist church in Korea was completely subordinated to the state, losing the privileges it had enjoyed during the Goryeo era.