상사뱀 설화의 업(業) 설화적 고찰

Abstract

In Buddhism, the snake is a symbol of samsara and karma, and it is a animal that is mainly reincarnated by humans who have accumulated a lot of bad karma in a previous life. Accordingly, the tale of a disciplinant Buddhist monk died and became a Lovesick snake may be a Buddhist karma tales to be wary of the Buddhist monk building bad karma with his sexual desire. As the tale of the Buddhism Lovesick snake, the Buddhist monk is a main character, spreads to the people and the range of characters expands, it is possible to create a Lovesick snake tales which the main character is an ordinary person who is not related to Buddhism. The created Lovesick snake tales in this way can also contribute to the mission work of Buddhism. This is described in detail as follows. First, the Lovesick snake tales may have been created and utilized to inspire the Buddhist monks to be wary of violating the precept. The Lovesick snake tales make Buddhist monks understand the samsara so that they don’t build bad karma with their sexual desire, can help the Buddhist monks devote themselves to asceticism that they develop Buddhist doctrines for building good karma. Second, the Lovesick snake tales may have been created and utilized to facilitate mission work easily of funny for the public to understand the creed and thought of Buddhism. The Buddhist monks can easily propagate the Buddhist karma thought and samsara thought, which is difficult for the public to understand, through the tales of becoming a Lovesick snake by bad karma, sexual desire. Also, the Lovesick snake tales may have been used to get the public interested in Buddhism by interesting and amazing tales. Third, the Lovesick snake tales may have been created and utilized to secure the social status of Buddhism by enhancing the miracle of Buddha through amazing tales, and through this, to secure the believers. The Buddhist monks narrated the Cheongpyeongsa Temple legend and solve the impossible eradication of Lovesick snake through the Buddha’s miracle, so it can be propagated that, like the princess’s act of Buddhist merit, if the public believes in Buddhism and accumulates Buddhist merit, prayers will be solved. As mentioned above, the Lovesick snake is a being which is reincarnated by building bad karma to sexual desire of five desire of Buddhism, and for this reason, the Lovesick snake tales can be seen as a Karma Tales of Buddhism.