해방공간 불교계의 과제와 만암 송종헌의 ‘불교계 정화인식’

Abstract

Manam Jong-hyeon Song was a high priest who led his turbulent life after 1945 since he had been born in the latter era of the Jocheon Dynasty. When Hwae-gwang Lee who was the head of Wonjong after losing the sovereignty of the nation in 1910 started Soto Sect in Japan and Mejong move, he participated in the campaign to found Linjitsung which was developed to protect tradition of the Korean Buddhist circle. He made a commitment to educational work after realizing its importance early. He fostered talented persons by founding Gwangseongeuisuk which teaches Naejeon which is Buddhist doctrines and Woiheon which is the general study together in Cheongryuam, the branch temple of Baegyangsa(Temple) in 1910. He assumed the principal of the School to Teach Buddhism in 1929. In 1948 after liberation, he became the symbolic existence of the Buddhist circle as he was inducted into the third Gyojeong of Joseon Buddhism. He assumed the head of the Jogye Order in 1954. But as the Buddhist circle was divided into bigusung(single Buddhist monks) and married Buddhist priests with their wives and children and was in absolute chaos because purification talk of president Syngman Rhee was announced, he accepted reality and argued that purification should be done in the gradual and peaceful ways. The alternative that Jong-hyeon Song was the best one was reasonable at that time. The married Buddhist priests who led the flow of the Buddhist circle at that time did not spare any several temples that Bigusung could carry out. Bigusung expressed their dissatisfaction and it appeared by the purification campaign of the Buddhist circle due to the statement of the president Rhee which was announced just in time. As there were physical confrontations between Bigus and married Buddhist priests over occupation of Buddhist temples, the Buddhist circle was in absolute chaos. This chaos was creating court cases and the Buddhist circle could not help the adjustment and decision of governmental authority. And the aftereffect has not been completely cured until now. As Jong-hyeon Song's arguments were not been accepted by Bigusung, he returned to Baegyangsa saying that he agreed with the principle of purification but he cannot be with the group who changed its low position to high one by dishonest means. He organized Gobulchongrim, enacted Cheonggyu of Baegyangchongrim, and practiced Seon-Nong IlChi in it.