일제시기 신문으로 살펴본 비구니의 활동과 지위

Abstract

The activities of Buddhist nuns were reported by newspapers during the Japanese colonialism as follows：first, they kept doing their religious activities, participating in Buddhist services in various ways including ascetic exercises, education of the public, collection of offerings, and social services. Second, they engaged in production and collection of donations. The Japanese rulers implemented the “Mental Development Policy” and “Total Mobilization System” in order to control the minds of Chosun people, and the Buddhist community took active part in them. The Buddhist nuns' activities in production and collection of donations resulted from their mobilization in the process. Third, they committed crimes, most of which were swindles, embezzlements, and adulteries. There were many reports on their crimes, which reflected the evil practices of Buddhist nuns during those days. However, it should be considered that newspapers tend to report events a lot. During the period of Japanese colonialism, the status of Buddhist nuns was subordinate to Buddhist monks in the religious order, which is well proven by that they were fewer than Buddhist monks, received poor treatments from the religious order, and were subject to sexual exploitation and assault. In society, they were not properly recognized as religious figures. Such negligence of Buddhist nuns derived from the conventional doctrines. It was, however, also a huge factor that most of women that became Buddhist nuns belonged to the socially weak class. All sorts of crimes they committed contributed to their lower social status, as well. During the period of Japanese colonialism, the activities and status of Buddhist nuns were passive before the people's reality. However, the trend should be understood in the historical context rather than as part of their qualities.