唐 武宗의 불교정책과 禪宗

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to illustrate the causes and process of a buddhism suppression forced by Emperor Wu-tsung of the T'ang Dynasty and to explain consequent change in the buddhist society, particularly in Zen Buddhism. Emperor Wu-tsung ordered and executed thoroughly a large-scale suppression of Buddhism, which was later marked as the most brutal persecution of buddhism during the entire history of China. The suppression was under way from the year 842 to 846, especially reaching its height in the year 845. As a result of this suppression, the number of Buddhist monasteries and monks was reduced and kept to a minimum. Buddhist temples and statues had been destroyed to make, for example, coins and agricultural tools and to construct public buildings. Also, monks, nuns and temple slaves were forced to return to lay life in order to pay taxes. The properties of numerous temples and shrines were also confiscated by the state. This suppression was resulted politically and socially from the weakness of the noble power and economically from the financial difficulties of the state as well as the corruption of Buddhist order. Philosophically, Buddhism was brutally persecuted as Emperor Wu-tsung became a fanatical Taoist and as a result, a renown Taoist priest and Taoist chancellor Li Deyu held the real power. Among the Four Buddhist Persecutions in China, the persecution initiated by Emperor Wu-tsung differentiated itself from the others with its own distinct characteristics; it was the only one carried out all over China and was caused largely due to economic reasons. Also, Buddhist orders were controlled by a ministry of the state and no Buddhist monks and nuns offered resistance against the state suppression. However, ironically, this persecution gave a birth to a new realistic Buddhism, that is practical Buddhism, which transcends the Buddhist eschatology. This shift to practical Buddhism is clearly seen out of the relations between Emperor Wu-tsung's suppression and Zen Buddhism. In the regions where the suppression was avoided with the efforts of some buddhist provincial governors, Liniji Yixuan and Zhaozhou Congshen were able to form the basis for Zushi-chan(zen). Also, other zen masters made enormous efforts in writing guide books for zen practice, undergoing thorough schooling and inspection based on these guides, and suggesting new practice methods for monks who returned to lay life. All these efforts of various zen masters laid a solid foundation for popularizing Buddhism, practical Buddhism and lay buddhists in the Sung Dynasty.