『염불요문(念佛要門)』에 대한 오노겐묘(小野玄妙)의 해석 연구

Abstract

Many attribute the writing of The Essential Method of Reciting the Buddha’s Name (hereafter EMRBN) to the Korean monk of the Goryeo period, Jinul(普照國師知訥, 1158-1210). However, scholars in Buddhist academia still dispute the authorship of this particular work. Based on existing research, there is lively debate among scholars over whether the EMRBN was written by Jinul himself or considered false pretense. However, an additional argument exists that does not fall under either categories of dispute: A process led to the establishment of Jinul as the author of the EMRBN. As such, this paper examines the work of Japanese Pure Land Buddhist scholar, Ono Genmyō(小野玄妙, 1883-1939) who was one of the first to argue that the authorship of the EMRBN belonged to Jinul. Ono lived during the period of Japanese imperialism coupled by militarism. As the Japanese Buddhist community provided an ideological groundwork during this time of war, the emergence of wartime education degenerated this foundation. It is during this time that Ono argues that the EMRBN’s authorship to Jinul occurred from the time of Buddhism during the Joseon dynasty, which is a descent of a sect of Chinese Pure Land teachings(淨土教) called the Three Sutras of Cimin(慈愍三藏流). Moreover he argues that Japanese Pure Land teachings, through the Three Sutras of Cimin, ‘unify’the Chinese, Joseon, and Japanese Pure Land Teachings. Ono’s argument seems fitting especially during the period of Japanese history when the Japanese political slogan, Hakkō ichiu(八紘一宇) became popular. This paper argues that Ono in response to the time, attempted a ‘mythical interpretation’ by searching the origins of Jinul’s work, thereby ‘unifying’ Japanese Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, and Joseon Buddhism through The Essential Method of Reciting the Buddha’s Name.