범어사 3.1운동의 재조명

Abstract

When Japan intensified their aggression upon Chosun since the opening of her ports, the Buddhism in Chosun has been divided into two different streams: one is a anti-Japanese movement along with the defending the Buddhism struggle to protect the traditional Buddhism, and the other is to recognize the Japanese Buddhism actively to maintain the current affairs. Inevitably, the figures of Buddhism in the colonized Chosun had been forced to make a choice between them, and historians have assessed them in a diverse way till now. Majority studies must have been made on individuals and groups that fought against the Japanese invasion and defended the Buddhism. However, many critics often used to regard these activities as something representing religious distinct characteristics or a means to secure their vested right. This study aims at investigate that the anti-Japanese movement by Buddhist leaders in those days had kept in tune with contemporary people who had a desire to be independent from the Japanese occupation. It is, of course, undeniable to acknowledge that the Buddhist activists were widely supported by organizational power and vested rights of Chosun Buddhism. But, what is more remarkable is that many young Buddhist activists who had acquired new knowledge out of conservative Buddhist traditions were produced. In particular, it is well known that personnels from Beomeosa Temple, Myeongjeong school and local schools played an important role in independent movement in Busan areas. Based on this historical fact, this study focuses on the 1919 Samil Independence Movement of Beomeosa Temple, and attempts to re-illuminate the process of their resistance under the Japanese occupation not from the simple viewpoint of Korean Buddhist history, but from the perspective of Korea modern and contemporary history in general.