조선시대 연등회의 存廢와 불교사적 의미

Abstract

The two representative Buddhist festivals of the Koryeo Dynasty, Yeondeunghoe (the lotus lantern festival) and Palgwanhoe were abolished or abridged as the Joseon Dynasty was newly established. As soon as the foundation of the Joseon Dynasty, Palgwanhoe came to an end while the spring Yeondeunghoe performed on the first full moon day of the year continued to be conducted until it was finally abolished in 15th year of King Taejong’s reign. And another Yeondeunghoe celebrating the birth of Buddha, which was performed on 8th day of April, was sustained up until the modern period. When one considers the fact that the change of regime does not really affect folk customs, the abolition of Palgwanhoe and spring Yeondeunghoe can suggest that they were not actually regarded as a custom during the Koryeo Dynasty period. Thus this study aims to divide the spring Yeondeunghoe from the other one for Buddha’s birthday by the differences of their natures, and to analyze the latter one’s the course of its transmission. There are many records about the Yeondeunghoe for Buddha’s birthday found from the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, various collected works of scholars, and almanacs. And with the information from those records, one can conclude that the Yeondeunghoe was passed down through generations as a folk festival. But there is one important matter occurring if one considers the fact that it was originally for celebrating the birth of Buddha not just a folk festival. The fact that this Buddhist celebration became one of many other seasonal events in the Dynasty found by anti-Buddhist Confucian scholars needs a proper historical account. So this study has tried finding three historical significances of Yeondeunghoe tradition in the Joseon Dynasty. First, the fact that Yeondeunghoe was performed as a seasonal festival means that Buddhism was popularized at the time. Second, the government must have had a permissive policy against Buddhist religion of the populace. Third, Yeondeunghoe was not only a Buddhist event, but also an important popular custom. The reason that the significance of Yeondeunghoe should have been found from traditions of the Joseon Dynasty period was because the existing tradition of Yeonduenghoe, which was originated from the Koryeo Dynasty period, has gotten its distinctive features as a festive event during the Joseon Dynasty period. The Yeondeunghoe perfomed on Buddha’s birthday performed during the Josen Dynasty was a seasonal event for the populace and that is when today’s Yeondeunghoe has acquired its special significance.