충남 태안 지역의 『황천해원경』에 보이는 생사관

Abstract

In Taean, Chungcheongnam Province, a sutra(Hwangcheon Haewon-Gyeong) about the journey of the deceased to the otherworld is passed down. The content of the sutra seem to have been influenced with the Buddhist Gasas(narrative song) and ritual songs that were distributed during the 19th centuries such as Byeolhoisimgok, Monghwanga, and Hwacheong. Hwangcheon Haewon-Gyeong contains details about unique journey to the otherworld which is rarely found in other sutras or songs of shamans. The story is about the deceased following angels of death, leaving the world, going on the path of death, facing ups and downs, arriving to the Sewang, being judged by him and then end up in the paradise. This sutra is sung to this day to treat the sick or the dead as a shamanism ceremony. The story about a journey to the otherworld and Sewang’s judgment delivers philosophical speculation about how man should overcome death. The Sutra elucidates the afterlife, where most valued virtue is “good faith”. A good life is based on interpersonal relationships. Therefore a good life depends on the practice of “coexistence.” This philosophy of coexistence is fully reflected in the way of thinking among Korean people today. In the end, Hwangcheon Haewon-Gyeong delivers a message that the key to overcoming fear of death can be achieved by living together with neighbors with good faith, being considerate and share what you have.