한국불교 천도재의 중층적 위상

Abstract

Korea’s traditional after-death ceremonies have experienced an overall topographical change in the end of the 20th century. Several decades ago, funeral rites and religious ceremonies of Confucianism was the main axis of postmortem ceremonies, while the areas of Buddhism and shamanism were relatively apparent. However, the after-death ceremonies of Confucianism and shamanism has been reduced and simplified nowadays. With this trend, Chundojae(薦度齋) which is held at a Buddhist temple is becoming the alternative plan for after-death ceremonies chosen by many people irrelevant with belief in Buddhism. Chundojae was a ritual centered on Buddhism believers held to lead the spirits of the dead to heaven. Now it is widely accepting functions that the Confucianism funeral rites and religious ceremonies, exorcism of shamanism have been in charge of. As for these factors, the concept of life and death and ceremony elements within Chundojae were an important foundation for choosing it as an alternative ceremony of Confucianism and shamanism. Chundojae had an ‘expedient spirit concept’ which was closely combined with ‘spirit of filial piety and ancestor worship’ that is the core of Confucianism funeral rites and religious rituals, and the exorcism of shamanism. Desires for ceremonies of folks were being satisfied through the ideological basis of these ceremonies. As the features of Chundojae and the recent multi-religious complex ceremony functions are raised, it is considered that we are at a point where Buddhism of total interpenetration and omnidirectional functions of Chundojae are brought into relief as an after-death ceremony more than ever. Also, we can see that a religious mind pursuing the permanence of existence before reasonable recognition on spirits and life after death is settled in the conceptual background of Chundojae. The permanence through karma is a profound concept that is difficult to accept, so ceremony subjects recognize the person to lead to heaven as a spiritual being, unconnected to the substantial teachings of ‘selflessness(無我)’ of Buddhism. The folks’ mind on this permanence did not have to be divided with shamanism’s concept on spirits that exchange with living beings as moral subjects, as well as the Confucianism spiritual concept regularly responding to ancestors through ceremonial situations although it does not recognize afterlife. The reason why Chundojae of these features was able to be held seems to be greatly depending on the religious characteristics of Buddhism. In western religions, the one and only God exists as an absolute being. However, Buddhism believes anyone can become a Buddha through illumination. Bowing down to the dead at temples while worshiping ancestors was possible. Chundojae was able to develop by accepting sacrificial rites of folks.