濟州 法華寺 三尊佛의 南京 移置와 滿空의 入明 傳法

Abstract

In 1406, Emperor yung-lo of Ming dynasty sent a Korean eunuch as a royal envoy to King Tae Taejong of Yi dynasty, Korea asking him to send the Samjondong buddha's image to China. The Samjondong Buddha's image was originally installed at Bupwha temple in Jejiu island, and the stately status was tranported Nanjing, China with full cooperation of the Korean authorities. The stated reason of such a request was to offer prayers for the deceased parents of Emperor Yung-lo. In 1407, Korean envoy to China reported to home country that eleven Korean monks had smuggled themselves into China. But they had audience with Emperor Yung-lo and they were escorted to Tienju temple(Tienchieh temple). There is an epitaph of a Korean monk, named Mangong(1388〜1463) at Buchauchan temple, in Tai-an city, Shan-tung province. According to the content of epitaph, Venerable Mangong arrived in China in 1415 and was appointed to abbotship of Tien-chieh temple in Nanjing. After the patron Emperor Yung-lo's death, Venerable Mangong made a round of calls on those nation's famed masters, and then he built Buchauchan temple in Mount Taishan where he devoted himself to the missionary works for the rest of his life. therefore, Venerable Mangong is recorded as a highly respected master of Buddhism and also known as a Korean monk who pursued buddhist truth indefatigably in China. The capital city of Nanjing was reduced to ruin by the internal war in 1402. After moving his capital to Beijing, Emperor Yung-lo built three more temples in Nanjing in addition to five great temples which were already there. Tienchieh temple was one of the three newly built temples where Samjondong Buddihst statue was installed for good. In conclusion, there were historical concidences that Samjondong buddha's image was transported from Korea to China, and Samjondong Buddha's image was placed at the newly built Tienchieh temple in Nanjing, and then Emperor Yung-lo made a Korean monk, Venerable Mangong, into head of the esteemed institution. There had been a speculation that Emperor Yung-lo was originally son by Queen Kung, a Korean lady. If so, it was highly likely that Tienchieh temple and Samjondong buddha's image were to consecrate the spirit of Quin kung.