新羅 中代 王權과 密敎

Abstract

Esoteric Buddhism is estimated to have been introduced into Shilla around the late 6th century. It was during the reign of Queen Seondeok(善德女王) in the middle 7th century that esoteric Buddhism was actively accepted by the Shilla society and began to take important roles in the national level. Queen Seondeok had to deal with the pestering attacks of Goguryeo(高句麗) and Baekje(百濟) and was questioned for her qualification as the king since she was female. After searching for ways to stabilize the kingdom and secure her royal authority, she finally chose esoteric Buddhism. A Buddhist monk during her reign, Ahn Hong(安弘) suggested an idea of building a nine-story pagoda at Hwangryong Buddhist Temple(皇龍寺九層塔) based on Chongmyoinyeonsabangshinjugyeong(塚墓因緣四方神呪經) of Gwanjeonggyeong Book(灌頂經) 6, which explains the sorcery power of a stupa to protect the nation. He also made Shilla the country of Buddhism protected by the Four Devas(四天王) based on the Sacheonwangpum(四天王品) of Geumgwangmyeonggyeong(金光明經). During the reign of King Munmu(文武王), Myeong Rang(明朗) defeated the troops of Tang Dynasty(唐) with the Munduru Law(文豆婁法), which was based on Gwanjeonggyeong Book 7, Gwanjeongbokmabongindaeshinjugyeong(灌頂伏魔封印大神呪經) and Geumgwangmyeonggyeong(金光明經). An esoteric Buddhist monk Hye Tong(惠通) after unification is distinguished from the esoteric Buddhist monks before him. He was active after the three kingdoms were unified, when the Buddhist monks were asked to provide policies to better rule the nation rather than the ideas to protect the nation and defeat enemies. He was appointed as the most reverend priest(國師) by King Shinmun(神文王) and Hyoso(孝昭王), who were trying to stabilize the nation after unification, because he proposed ideal politics for their efforts. In the middle 8th century, Bo Cheon(寶川) systemized the faith of Mt. Odae, being heavily influenced by esoteric Buddhism. When he was meditating and practicing in the mountain, Shilla was desperately trying to centralize the power. But the records of Samguksagi(三國史記) and Samgukyusa all indicate that it was actually unstable. During the reign of King Seongdeok(聖德王), Dae Jo-yeong(大祚榮) founded Balhae(渤海) and Japan(日本) invaded Shilla. Those events happening outside the borders must have been threats to Shilla. Thus Bo Cheon tried to stabilize unstable Shilla and systemized the faith of Mt. Odae based on the thoughts of esoteric Buddhism strongly characterized by the tendency to protect the nation and defeat enemies. Those facts indicate that esoteric Buddhism was in constant use by Shilla as a means of strengthening the royal authority and stabilizing the nation.