牧隱 李穡의 佛敎觀―그의 記文을 중심으로―

Abstract

Mokeun Lee Shaek and BuddhismKim, Jae-Wook*攀*Dongkuk University Lecturer攀攀Mokeun Lee Shaek(1328～1396) is the most important confucian scholar of the late Korea dynasty era. Major part of his literary works is influenced by Confucianism, and the studies on his works have focused on Confucianism accordingly. But the Buddhism was deeply embedded in the culture of the late Korea dynasty era, and it was inevitable for Lee Shaek to be influenced by Buddhism. Since his childhood, Lee Shaek naturally learned about Buddhism and he was as deeply into Buddhism as Confucianism.This paper seeks Lee Shaek's perspective on Buddhism with the following focuses: first, Lee Shaek had a favorable attitude toward Buddhism from the beginning. Second, his identity as a confucian scholar had him have a distance from Buddhism though. Third, he acknowledged Buddhism as a religion. Forth, in the end, Lee Shaek accepted both teachings of Buddhism and Confucianism and seeked the co-existence of two philosophies. Fifth, the theoretical basis for this co-existence was the philosophy of Avatamska(화엄사상) that affirms the ubiquity and unification of things.Confucianism rejects Buddhism as a heresy. So it may sound questionable to say that the confucian scholar Lee Shaek believed in Buddhism. But that is only so to the ears of confucian scholars of Chosun dynasty. From the perspective of Buddhism which puts emphasis on openness, the co-existence of Buddhism and Confucianism does not pose a significant discrepancy. It certainly did not matter in Lee Shaek's era. To understand Lee Shaek's life and works, this point should not be overlooked. This paper comes to a conclusion that Lee Shaek, the most importance scholar of Confucianism throughout the entire Korea dynasty era, also was an true follower of Buddhism.