한·일 불교 근대화 관점에서 본 금당 이재복의 불교대중화

Abstract

This paper focuses on the discussion of how Manhae(萬海) and Seokjeon(石顚)’s attempt to modernize and popularize Korean Buddhism has been being passed down by their subsequent generations. To achieve this purpose, this paper places the emphasis on the significance of Great Master Geumdang Lee Jae-bok’s modernization or popularization of Buddhism, who pursued the success of Manhae and Seokjeon’s will whilst attempting to implement it in reality. Through such research, the purpose of this paper lies in understanding the tendency of the aspect of the modernization and popularization of Korean Buddhism after modern times. The creation of the modern concept of religion presented a task of ‘Buddhism as religion’ to the Korean and Japanese Buddhist community, which was eventually linked to the modernization of Buddhism. Thus, Buddhist figures were pressured into the pursuit Buddhism as a modern religion, and from Renunciant Practitioners  to Lay Practitioners, Funeral retes to Buddhist Thoughts, the direction was set; the enlightenment of each individual was pursued through the learning of Buddhist Thoughts. The popularization of Buddhism became a generational task, and the leaders of Buddhism strived to establish a Buddhist Thoughts system to lead Lay Practitioners to enlightenment. Such efforts in Korean Buddhism are well represented through the modern Manhae Han Yong-un or Seokjeon Park Han-young; in particular, they insisted on the innovation of Buddhism according to the situation of Joseon Buddhism. This paper states that Geumdang Lee Jae-bok was the one to seek directions of modern Buddhism centered on the popularization of Buddhism whilst strictly inheriting their spirit post liberation, and that he inherited Manhae’s ways of Buddhist popularization and Seokjeon’s modernization spirit of Buddhist innovation, and especially focused on studying Buddhism in the lives of the Lay Practitioners when he pioneered the path of Buddhist missionary work and Tripitaka’s Exposition.