파주 普光寺의 역사와 위상*

Abstract

The study analyzes documents concerning the Bokwang-temple in Paju city to define its history and status. Basic collection of the history of Bokwang-temple was accomplished by collecting related documents and finding new documents about the temple. Bokwang-temple was founded by a master monk, Doseon to pray for the prosperity of the country and the temple was called the Goryoung-temple. Later, it was renamed Bokwang-temple. It was found that the function of the temple was to manage the royal tomb and pray peace for Sookbin-Choi, the mother of King Youngjo, in the Choseon Dynasty. King Jeongjo constructed Hwaseong Fortress and Yongju-temple to pray for the happiness of his parents. It was inspired by Bokwang-temple, the royal tomb temple of Soryongwon built by his grandfather, King Youngjo. Bokwang-temple had an appearance similar to royal family temple for King Gojong as well as King Youngjo. One of the disciples of Cheongheo-Hyujeong who restored Buddhism in the mid-Choseon Dynasty, Pyeonyang-Eongee served as a head monk at Bokwang-temple. Later, his disciple, Poonggye-Myoungchal reformed Bokwang-temple, while serving as a head monk at the temple. The temple was destroyed by the Japanese Invasion in 1592. However, it was highly respected as a royal tomb temple by King Youngjo and became one of most important temples in the late-Choseon Dynasty, when Buddhist monks were secluded in mountains thanks to the efforts from the highest monks such as Poonggye-Myoungchal. Additionally, at the end of the Choseon Dynasty, Hwangong-Chijo, along with Bokwang-geosa Yuoon, started the Jeongwon-Gyulsa Movement at Bokwang-temple. After that, they held Buddhist service of Amitabha for the two decades after 1896, and a leader of modern Buddhism, Yongseong-Jinjong practiced at the Dosolam, one of the building at Bokwang-temple. Hence, the Bokwang -temple became a base of the Daegaggyo Movement, a enlightenment movement.