近代期의 元曉 再發見者들- 鄭晄震, 崔南善, 趙明基, 許永鎬를 중심으로 -

Abstract

The persons who paid new attention to thought and life of Wonhyo(617-686) at modern time, who was the figure of Silla period, will be introduced and aspect of their ‘Wonhyo rediscovery’ will be also examined in this study. And the back ground they had interested in Won-hyo considering the relationship with Japan at that time and the image of Wonhyo which was pictured in the result of their efforts will be introduced particularly focusing on peoples who experienced the study in Japan. Wonhyo was a person who was widely known in East Asian Buddhism world, and it is well known truth that his work Daeseung-gisin-lonso(大乘起信論疏, Commentary on Awakening of Faith) Geumgang-sammae-gyeongnon(金剛三昧經論, Commentary on Vajrasamādhi Sutra) were widely read also. In spite of that, because Wonhyo didn’t have any activity to form student group or religious organization, the sense of his existence were forgotten a lot passing through Joseon dynasty which had policy of emphasis on Confucianism and restriction on Buddhism. So the images of mysterious monk in building of famous temple story were left and gradually passed down. But entering modern time, this situation was changed. Wonhyo got quick attention from the people and became reevaluated in the background of liberation of Korean Buddhism world from restriction, intercourse with Japanese Buddhism world, competition with Western religion etc. Particularly the recognition of Wonhyo at that time has the aspect related to ‘national existence, matter of national identity’ under the colonial ruling of Japan instead of the aspect of Buddhism doctrine or faith. Wonhyo was called out from the history and interpreted fit for circumstance of the country and Buddhism of the time, and the aspect of it appeared as a symbol of ‘national hero, reformer, founder of Tong-Bulgyo(通佛敎), military monk, patriotic monk, ideologic founder of Buddhism with combined Seon-kyo(禪敎). It means that Wonhyo reappeared as ‘symbol of pride of Korean national philosophy and culture’ rather than a ‘ancient monk who realized Buddhism truth’ from the time point of modern. Related to this fact, this study tried to explain historical background of Wonhyo rediscovery of modern time considering the relationship of Korea and Japan and intercourse of their Buddhism worlds. This study tried to examination on the background and aspect of Wonhyo rediscovery particularly focusing on Chung Hwang-Jin, Choi Nam-Sun, Cho Meong-Ki, Heo Yeong-Ho. We could read complicated emotions like a kind of resistance to Japan which was appeared as colonization country and seeking for national pride, and longing for Japanese Buddhism world which was rosen as developed Buddhism country at that time etc in other aspect in their Wonhyo understanding. Through this examination, I expect that this study would be an opportunity to recognize that the image of a person called Wonhyo was not fixed but read diversely and recreated by the situation of the time, and further more to throw a question what the meaning of Wonhyo is to us in this contemporary time.