백용성과 대각사 연구

Abstract

Rev. Yongseong Baek(1864∼1940) was a Buddhist monk and independence activist during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the early 20th century. The great master built Daegaksa Temple, which would become a mecca for Buddhist teaching and a fulcrum of the March 1st Liberation Movement. In that gloomy period, Yongseong tirelessly strove for the independence and the revival of traditional Korean Buddhism. At that time, Joseon society was in a chaotic and disordered state, largely because of the Donghak Civil War and the decline of Confucianism. Buddhism was also severely oppressed by hegemonic dynastic rule; nevertheless, the religion was strong enough to prevail for monks like Yongseong to succeed to the abbacy. In this social atmosphere, Rev. Yongseong, who had been ordained as a Buddhist monk, moved to Seoul in 1911 after practicing in various temples and meditation halls across the country. It was here in the capital where he devoted himself to the revival of traditional Korean Buddhism and its growing popularization. In 1916, he established Daegaksa Temple, which would not only act as the intellectual hive for his Daegak ideas but also as the center for his national independence and mass proselytization activities. In addition, in 1921, Rev. Yongseong organized the Samjang Translation Society, thus initiating a fully∼fledged translation project that would translate and publish in earnest Buddhist scriptures. The first period was between 1911 and 1920. The great master Yongseong was sentenced to prison for signing the famous March 1st 1919 Declaration of Independence. He was released from Gyeongseong Prison in 1921. The first phase examines the founding of Daegaksa Temple as well as the role the temple would play as center for the Buddhist independence movement. The second period was between 1921, the year in which the Samjang Translation Society was launched, and 1935 when the ownership of Daegaksa Temple was transferred to Beomeosa Temple. In the second phase, I examine the role Daegaksa Temple played as the center of public mission; for instance, as loci of translation and writing projects, of resistance (vis a vis the declaration of Daegakgyo), and of mass proselytization. Finally, the third was between 1936 and 1940 (Rev. Yongseong passed away in 1940). The last phase covers the ownership of Beomeosa Temple, wherefrom he continued his translation and writing projects, including the transition to the Chongrim (a comprehensive monastic training system) promulgated by the Joseon Buddhist seon order. Just as Yongseong is justly celebrated in the annals of Korean Buddhist history, people will likewise remember Daegaksa Temple for its influence on the development of Korean Buddhism.