한국불교 생전예수재의 특성 - 회편과 차서와 상례화를 중심으로 -

Abstract

This essay considers the characteristic of Saengjeonyesujae(生前預修齋, performing the rites during life in order to be reborn into Buddha’s land after death) in Korean Buddhism, where one performs Chilchiljae(七七齋, weekly ritual for the deceased for seven weeks) in advance while in life, a kind of Chucheonjae after death(死後追薦齋, the ceremony of praying for the repose of one's soul). It is performed through offerings to the ten kings of hell, repaying the debt of the earlier life and by reading the Buddhist scriptures. Here we discuss Saengjeonyesujae focusing upon the trait of compilation of ritual program in Yesujae, the reconstitution of its procedure, and its usual practice. In the 10thcentury the belief of praying for the repose of one’s soul developed in Korean Buddhism, where people perform Chilchiljae after death or made offering to the ten kings in the nether world based on the thought of the ten kings of hell(十王思想). The earlier version of ritual program in Yesujae, Yesusiwangsaengchiljaeuichanyo(『預修十王生七齋儀纂要』) was compiled in the mid 16th century by Ven. Daewoo(大愚) unknown his birth and death date. He named his compilation as ‘Chanyo’(纂要, the compilation of the gist), which follows the editing tradition for the compilation of the gist. It succeeds the publication spirit of Korean Buddhist ritual program by adopting the organization of Chwalyo(撮要, the selection of the gist), another form of the traditional Suryukjae(水陸齋, the offering ritual for land and water), and shows a multi-layered structure of offering. The order of program in Yesujae has gradually been restructured since his compilation was published. There are a variety of different views on when the ceremony of chanting Buddha, the prayer for gods’ protection should be performed, however I think it should be performed at the opening of the rite. Also, the rite is restructured by the addition of the ceremony of inviting Avalokiteśvara and involves the sprinkling of holy water to purifies the eight directions, and a dharma talk. The Lotus Sutra(Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra) is read or taught in Yeongsan․Suryukjae(靈山․水陸齋, Vulture Peak offering ritual for land and water) while The Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra) was read along with the repayment of afterlife debt in Yesujae before being replaced by the compilation of the gist of The Diamond Sutra(『金剛經纂』). Saengjeonyesujae was originally called Siwangjae(十王齋, the rite for the ten kings of hell) or Sobeonjae(燒幡齋, the ceremony of burning the papers) which were further developed in the mid 16th century to become Yesujae. It has become a common practice such rituals as making an offering to Buddha on the first day of every month, and every full moon day and dedication on Sipjaeil(十齋日, Ten precept days). It lost its inherent meaning as it has become combined with Suryukjae. This was especially the case for sipjaeil, which became an offering to the Buddha and bodhisattvas instead of the ten kings of hell while the offering for the ten kings in the nether world became part of Jijangjaeil(地藏齋日, the celebration for Kṣitigarbha, a bodhisattva of Earth Treasury). Saengjeonyesujae was reduced to the usual practice of Yesujae. But its composite feature is preserved and it has regained its inherent functionality as the composite rites including Yeongsanjae and Suryukjae after being reorganized in 20thcentury. Generally it is performed on leap months but may also often be performed at the temples in the capital when Chilchiljae is substitute for the Uranbunjae(the ceremony for dead ancestors).