「한국불교학 40년」을 통해 본 선학연구의 회고와 전망 및 과제

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the research results, andassignments, of Korean Seon (Zen) studies by analyzing research trendsof the forty years (1970-2012) of Korean Seon studies and those ofJapan and North America. In Korea, articles on Seon studies amount to a total of over 750;PhD dissertations, 60; works in book form, about 70 volumes. As forthe research theme dealt in Korean Seon studies, themes related to theKorean Seon tradition have increased rapidly in number since 1990,and large portions of them deal with those belonging to the Goryeoperiod. In comparison, the themes related to Chinese Chan started inKorea from the 1980s, increased in number after the 2000s. In addition,Korea has produced more research results in the area of applied Seonthan in pure Seon studies. In case of Zen studies in Japan, researches on Chinese Chan weretriggered by Dunhuang texts in the 1930s, continued through the 1990s,and have now accumulated much more results than in case of Zenstudies in Korea in terms of quality and quantity. As for the Zen studies in North America, it in fact started fromthe year 1967 with the research of Japanese Zen tradition. Currently,Zen is treated as a complex cultural system and as a branch ofhumanities and social science. Comparison with research trends of other countries presents us with some assignments in three respects: firstly, researchers need toavoid pursuing one-sided and overlapping researches; second,introductory research works on the history of the Zen sect and sanghaare to be written; and thirdly, more support is needed for domesticand overseas Seon researchers.