고려시대 국가, 지역 차원 祭儀와 개인적 신앙

Abstract

Numerous public ceremonies were carried out by state and local communities during the Goryeo dynasty(918-1392). These ceremonies were held as community festivals and thus in order to understand the religious mindset of the Goryeo people we must examine the ceremonies that were enacted at the state and local levels. Public rituals and ceremonies incorporated a wide variety of practices such as Confucianism and Buddhism in addition to folk beliefs. Although the gods selected for worship were those who had helped the local regions and the state through their benevolence and performance of miracles, state recognition was based primarily on the accepted beliefs of local people. For ages there was the commonly held widespread belief that these gods were the rulers of nature who could help avert disaster or produce rain. Communities performed public ceremonies in order to resolve crises in the belief that these rituals would bring a direct response from the gods. A mediator was needed in these ceremonies to communicate directly with the gods. The king or government officials presided over Confucian rituals while Buddhist priests or shamans presided over other ceremonies. However, there were occasions when Buddhist priests or shamans presided over Confucian rituals as well. All members of the community participated in these public ceremonies. They took part in all the formalities of worship, singing and dancing, eating and drinking, and sharing in festival expenses. This was a necessary part of benefiting commonly in the benevolence and miracles bestowed by the gods. It was therefore impossible for a member of the community to maintain private beliefs apart from public rituals.