조선후기 안성 청룡사의 佛事 후원자 연구

Abstract

In the late Cheosun period, Buddhism continued to deteriorate in its economic and social status due to the ongoing policies of the Cheonsun Dynasty to suppress the religion. In those days, it was not an easy task to maintain the power and authority of a Buddhist temple. The temple buildings became run down and required repairs,which could only be done with outside financial support. The way they attracted support can be examined in more detail when approached through a study of an individual community. This study set out to analyze the patrons of Cheongryong Buddhist Temple in Anseong and also reviewed the temple's records of repairs and the donations of Buddhist paintings. It was noteworthy that the Lee family of Jeonju who were related to the royal family appeared in the temple's repair document. This shows that the temple enjoyed a high status as a Buddhist temple. Entering the latter half of the Cheosun Danasty, Anseong was booming with its commodities market growth. Emerging from such a background were merchants, craftsmen, and men of wealth who were operating in the market. They became a new group of active patrons for the temple and its repairs. In the middle of these economic and social changes in the community, the temple developed relationships with new groups of citizens and was able to maintain its status. Next the patrons of Buddhist paintings were examined for their specific titles, names, and the icons in the paintings. The concerned records once again revealed the supports from the emerging men of wealth in Anseong. Thus it was again confirmed that the temple attracted newly emerging groups of patrons based upon the development of Anseong's commodities market economy. There were many other interesting records that detailed the donation of paintings made by women in the 19th century. Other records highlighted the support from the Min family that was closely connected to the traditional Buddhist temples in the area. Famous painters who painted Buddhist paintings for the temple came from southern Gyeonggi Province, which gives some hints at the status of Cheongryong Buddhist Temple in the Buddhist community at that time. It is generally accepted that the Buddhist community was maintained through the assistance and generosity from the average people during the harsh economic conditions in the latter half of Cheosun dynasty, which is demonstrated and supported in this specific case study.