The power of the Buddhas : the politics of Buddhism during the Koryŏ dynasty (918-1392)

'Buddhism in medieval Korea is characterized as “State Protection Buddhism,” a religion whose primary purpose was to rally support (supernatural and popular) for and legitimate the state. In this view, the state used Buddhism to engender compliance with its goals. A closer look, however, reveals that Buddhism was a canvas on which people projected many religious and secular concerns and desires. This study is an attempt to specify Buddhism's place in Koryo and to ascertain to what extent and in what areas Buddhism functioned as a state religion. Was state support the main reason for Buddhism's dominance in Koryo? How actively did the state seek to promote religious ideals? What was the strength of Buddhism as an institution and the nature of its relationship to the state? What role did Confucianism, the other state ideology, play in Koryo? This study argues that Buddhism provided most of the symbols and rituals, and some of the beliefs, that constructed an aura of legitimacy, but that there was no single ideological system underlying the Koryo dynasty's legitimating strategies.' Frontmatter Tables, Maps, and Figures (page xv) Kings of Unified Silla and Koryŏ (page xvii) Abbreviations (page xxi) Introduction (page 1) Part I Historical and Ideological Background 1 Buddhism and the State in Late Silla (page 31) 2 Foundations of a New Buddhist Policy: T'aejo and Buddhism (page 75) Part II The Official Institution of Buddhism 3 Legal Provisions on the Status of Monks (page 151) 4 The Saṅgha Examination, Ranking, and Administration (page 183) 5 The Royal and State Preceptors (page 238) Part III The Ritual and Economic Roles of Buddhism 6 The Buddhist Temple Economy in Early Koryŏ (page 271) 7 Buddhist State Rituals (page 313) Conclusion (page 365) Appendix Biographical Abstracts of Koryŏ Monks (page 375) Reference Matter Character List (page 419) Bibliography (page 433) Index (page 467)