『삼국유사』고승담(高僧談)의 갈등 양식과 의미 -唐『續高僧傳』·宋『宋高僧傳』과 비교하면서

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the thematic elements of anecdotes about high priests in 『Samkukyusa』 in connection with literature from other countries, by comparing 『Samkukyusa』 of Korea with 『Seung Jeon』 of China. Thus, this study primarily focused on the Buddhist priests in the Shilla Dynasty such as 'Ja-jang', 'Won-kwang', 'Won-hyo', and 'Eui-sang' who were listed in 『Samkukyusa』 as well as 『Sok Goseung Jeon』 of the Tang Dynasty and 『Song Goseung Jeon』 of the Song Dynasty in China. While the four Buddhist scholar-priests of the Silla Dynasty were described to be almost ideal saints in 『Seung Jeon』 of China, 『Samkukyusa』 described them in a relatively different manner. They were still described as the highest of scholar-priests, but with some flaws. Rather than admitting their wisdom and remarkable achievements that were noted in 『Seung Jeon』 of China, 'Il-yeon' showed the high priests' flaws in the anecdotes contained in 『Samkukyusa』 while concealing the actual theme of the anecdotes, thereby overcoming their flaws. The fact that the Buddhist priests of the Silla Dynasty were praised in 『Seung Jeon』 of China resulted from the courteous point of view of Chinese priest-editors such as Tao-Hsuan (596-667) and Zanning (919-1002). 'Il-yeon', the author of 『Samkukyusa』 reorganized the anecdotes of the high priests of Silla Dynasty that was based on 『Seung Jeon』 of China which had been released earlier. The differences between 『Seung Jeon』 of China and 『Samkukyusa』 hid the true meaning of the high priests' anecdotes as intended by 『Samkukyusa』. This article described the process by which one can discover the true meaning hidden in the descriptive structure.