法界 明星의 비구니계 활동과 승가교육관

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to take a preliminary consideration before it begins to study the activities of buddhist nuns and monk educational perspectives in depth, which are defined by Beopgye-myeongseong(法界明星), the most recognized figure among Korean buddhist nuns till the present. In order to provide reliable data, the paper not only looks into the life of Myeongseong and her buddhist priesthood but also roughly introduces her educational perspectives which were built up as she run an education organization, Unmunsa-sangga College(雲門寺僧伽大學). The buddhist priesthood in Korea has lasted for 1600 years approximately and the reputation of Korean Buddhist nuns is globally acknowledged, who are operating their own buddhist nunhood. The buddhist nuns have been actively participating in the Korean buddhist organization for last 30 years, rapidly widening their field of activities to the education, asceticism, and propagation. However, despite such vitalization of the buddhist nuns organization, there have been rarely empirical researches on the nuns' historical context as well as tradition. Believing that such unfair treatment is not right, the study started the preliminary investigation based on the activities of Myeongseong who recognized as the symbol of the Korean Buddhism and is now the president of the national Buddhist nuns organization. As the dean of Unmunsa-sangga College and the president of the Korean Buddhist nuns organization at present, Myeongseong is being introduced to the world, as the most influential figure in Korean Buddhism. As selected as a person who was closely related to the reputation of the female Buddhists, Myeongseong was given the outstanding woman award by the international association. She is also an educator who devoted himself to the intensive education of Korean Buddhist nuns and other education during the Buddhist priesthood of the nuns while she run Unmunsa herself. In addition, she is both the researcher and the scholar who has acquired the master's and doctorate degrees in vijuaptimātravādin (唯識學) which is considered quite difficult to study in Buddhist academic field. The paper is believed not only to present the achievements of the great figure but also to reflect the meaning of Buddhist nuns from the bigger view which is in the pursuit of the establishment of the nuns' status and the expansion of the education.