만주국의 종교정책과 불교

Abstract

In this paper, I provide an alternative reading of colonial Manchukuo as a religious nation and re-interpret the effects of Japan’s religious and Buddhist policies used to control Manchuria. Manchuria ruled itself and the Northeast region for about 14 years (after the Japanese Kwantung Army took over Manchuria in 1931) until the fall of the Emperor Pu-Yi on August 18, which took place soon after Japan’s 1945 defeat. The Manchuria that ruled during this time displayed signs that promoted “freedom of religion” as a national ideology of the “royal road,” and religion as the “official school of Korea.” They also nakedly displayed Japanese intentions to oppress with the use of “Usage” and “repression” on such signs. Japan used Manchukuo as an administrative organ of the state, similar to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Public Security, and even as a bridge to the People’s Republic of China. Also, in this capacity, religion served to justify and propagate the Japanese colonial rule of Manchukuo during this time. As a form of social consciousness, religion significantly impacted people at that time. Japan used religion as an essential coercive tool of colonial policy implementation to control and oppress the Manchukuo people. Japan’s use of religion dramatically departs from the typical colonial accounts of Manchukuo.