명종대 선과(禪科) 복원에 대한 고찰

Abstract

There had been an examination for Buddhist monks to select managers of temples since the announcement of Kyongjeyukchon in the sixth year of King Taejo’s reign in early Joseon. In the second year of King Taejong’s reign, they began to issue an identity tag through the ‘Talent Test’ based on Kyongjeyukchon. The norms under the item of ‘Entering the Monastic Life’ in “Yejon” of Gyunggukdaejeon proclaimed in the 16th year of King Seongjong’s reign became grounds for the Monastic Identity Tag System according to Entering the Monastic Life and also the examination for Buddhist Monks. The issuance of the Monastic Identity Tag System was, however, suspended in the 23rd year of King Seongjong’s reign. In December in the 11th year of King Chungchong’s reign, the item of ‘Entering the Monastic Life’ was deleted from Gyunggukdaejeon. As a result, there were no more grounds for the implementation of the triennial examination. The study then described the process of establishing two denominations again supported by Monk Bowoo and the government of Queen Munjeong in the fifth year of King Myeongjong’s reign, the process of issuing a Monastic Identity Tag based on the sutra test in the seventh year of King Myeongjong’s reign, and the process of restoring Seongwa (triennial examination) in the ninth year of King Myeongjong’s reign. Seonsih (triennial examination), however, did not progress smoothly according to the principle. Later, the restored triennial examination came to an end after the removal of Monk Bowoo from his official position in the 17th year of King Myeongjong’s reign, the discontinuity of the Buddhist Monk’s Examination in the 19th year of King Myeongjong’s reign, Queen Munjeong’s efforts to restore Seongwa (triennial examination) in the 20th year of King Myeongjong’s reign, the death of Queen Munjeong in the 20th year of King Myeongjong’s reign, and the murder of Monk Bowoo on Jeju Island where he was exiled in the 21st year of King Myeongjong’s reign. In the 21st year of King Myeongjong’s reign, the triennial examination was ultimately abolished.