불교 영험서사의 전통과 『법화영험전(法華靈驗傳)』

Abstract

This study outlined tradition of the tale of divine effect formed in the course of spreading and establishment of Buddhism in the East Asian culture. And through the characteristic of <Beophwa Yeongheom-jeon(法華靈驗傳)> as collected works of the tale of divine effect which was spreaded and enjoyed in our country were investigated. This refers to a preliminary work for exploring narrative meaning of the Buddhist tale of divine effect in the Early narrative literary history, that is, the narrative of divine effect. After Buddhism was actively spreaded around the Later Han, Buddhism reorganized thoughts and culture in the China and East Asia. The first examples in the field of literature were the tale of the Great Monk and the tale of divine effect. Especially, the tale of divine effect was formed in the period of the Wei and the Qin dynasty. As its material and content were varied until Tang and Song dynasty, this was established as a unique narrative style. This is also an example which first got unique status in the Early narrative history of East Asia. The tradition of such divine effect narrative was natural phenomenon according to spreading of Buddhism and later such tradition was formed in the surrounding countries. The first formation of divine effect narrative in Korea is identified in the sixth or seventh century in Baekje dynasty. This is the <Beophwakyeong_jipheomgi(法華經集驗記)> in the later seventh century. This shows the level of extracting Chinese tales of divine effect. Entering Goryeo dynasty, the tale of divine effect of 'Haedong(海東)' actively appeared. There was the <Haedong_ Beophwajeonhongrok(海東法華傳弘錄)>. This book is important material to explore aspect of accumulation of Buddhist narrative in the 13th century with representative books such as <Haedonggoseungjeon(海東高僧傳> and <Samgukyusa(三國遺事)>But this book is not extant. Only its parts are now shown on <BeophwaYeongheom-jeon(法華靈驗傳)>. This makes it possible to draw rough sketch of Buddhist narrative in the 13th century. Besides, <BeophwaYeongheom-jeon(法華靈驗傳)> fully shows aspect as a collected tales of divine effect because this book selectively included many materials of divine effect stories for the period until Tang and Song dynasty. In conclusion, <Beophwa Yeongheom-jeon(法華靈驗傳)> condenses part of transmission and enjoyment of Buddhist divine effect narrative in Goryeo dynasty. Through this, tradition of Buddhist divine effect narrative can be newly appreciated. This could be an interesting outcome with which aspects of Early narrative in Korean literature focused on 'Jeon_gi(傳奇)'.