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Religious Wonder in Pre-Modern Korea: Its Social, Cultural, Political Aspects
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Religious Wonder in Pre-Modern Korea: Its Social, Cultural, Political Aspects

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 3461

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Seong Uk Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
Interests: Korean Buddhism and religions; East Asian Buddhism and religions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Just as in China and Japan, there were phenomena of wonder that took place beyond the purview of people’s knowledge of nature in pre-modern times in Korea, often described using the term “yŏnghŏm” (Ch. lingyan, lit. numinous verification). These were religious and spiritual phenomena or events in which the power of the sacred, including buddhas, bodhisattvas, deities, immortals, and scriptures, was (perceived to be) revealed in an incomprehensible way, often as a response to wholesome or unwholesome human actions. These phenomena of wonder or mystery not only belonged to the realm of the subjective personal experience and interpretation but also frequently went over to the communal and social areas, shaping and enforcing or undermining community values and royal sovereignty. Although there are many records in Korea of yŏnghŏm, associated with Buddhism, Confucianism, folk beliefs, and even Catholicism, few academic studies have been conducted on these events or phenomena, unlike their Chinese and Japanese counterparts, especially beyond the personal realm. We invite papers that explore yŏnghŏm in pre-modern Korea in regard to its communal, social, or national meaning, implication, or influence, examining, for example, how these phenomena of wonder were made (fabricated), used, or emphasized in order to maintain and justify or challenge the established social, religious, and/or political order.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor, Dr. Seong Uk Kim ([email protected]), or to the Assistant Editor of Religions, Ms. Margaret Liu ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

Deadline for abstract submission: 8 December 2023

Deadline for full manuscript submission: 31 May 2024

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Seong Uk Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wonder
  • yŏnghŏm
  • lingyan
  • Korea
  • Korean religion
  • Korean Buddhism
  • Korean Confucianism
  • Korean folk religion
  • Korean Catholicism

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 325 KiB  
Article
Wonders and Politics of the Chosŏn Dynasty: Reflections on the Unexplored Side of the Chosŏn Neo-Confucian System
by Jonghyun Na
Religions 2024, 15(10), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101267 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 613
Abstract
Wonder was deeply rooted in the Chosŏn Neo-Confucian system. Through this wonder, we can see various layers of consciousness of Neo-Confucian scholars. Exploring the use of the element of wonder in political and scholarly areas requires more than just looking at aspects that [...] Read more.
Wonder was deeply rooted in the Chosŏn Neo-Confucian system. Through this wonder, we can see various layers of consciousness of Neo-Confucian scholars. Exploring the use of the element of wonder in political and scholarly areas requires more than just looking at aspects that have been neglected. This task is meaningful in that it shows the multi-layers of Neo-Confucianism in the Chosŏn era. It also provides an opportunity to examine how Confucianism intersected with other religions of the time. This allowed Neo-Confucianism to be more closely aligned with the general views of Chosŏn society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious Wonder in Pre-Modern Korea: Its Social, Cultural, Political Aspects)
21 pages, 421 KiB  
Article
Exploring Miracles and Wonders in Pre-Modern Korean Society through the Samguk yusa
by Sung Ha Yun
Religions 2024, 15(10), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101236 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 720
Abstract
Samguk yusa 三國遺事 (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), compiled by Iryŏn 一然 (1206–1289), a prominent Buddhist monk in Koryŏ, stands as one of Korea’s most valued historical classics. This classic weaves together a collection of captivating and unconventional narratives—marked by their [...] Read more.
Samguk yusa 三國遺事 (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), compiled by Iryŏn 一然 (1206–1289), a prominent Buddhist monk in Koryŏ, stands as one of Korea’s most valued historical classics. This classic weaves together a collection of captivating and unconventional narratives—marked by their peculiarity, miracles, and wonder—diverging from the usual societal norms. Unlike traditional historical chronicles such as Samguk sagi 三國史記 (Histories of the Three Kingdoms), Samguk yusa presents a diverse mosaic woven with historical anecdotes, legends, and folklore, especially emphasizing connections to Buddhism. The tales of miraculous events hold historical significance, serving as reflective mirrors that not only shaped the beliefs of pre-modern Korean Buddhists but also influenced the wider population of that era in Korea. This paper delves into the cultural significance and societal roles of miracles and wonders within pre-modern Korean society, particularly through a thorough exploration of narratives and accounts within the Samguk yusa. Through these miraculous stories, the Samguk yusa not only validates the spiritual power of Buddhism but also redefines concepts like filial piety and national protection by integrating them into the Buddhist framework. This ensured Buddhism’s enduring significance in Silla society and reinforced the importance of the supernatural as an integral part of a holistic view of history and culture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious Wonder in Pre-Modern Korea: Its Social, Cultural, Political Aspects)
11 pages, 336 KiB  
Article
Buddhist Yŏnghŏm (Wonder) and Royal Power in Early Chosŏn Korea: The Political Use of Buddhism during the Reign of King Sejo
by Kyŏng-hwan Ch’oe
Religions 2024, 15(8), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080912 - 27 Jul 2024
Viewed by 896
Abstract
With the establishment of Chosŏn, the adoption of the Cheng-Zhu learning as its official ruling ideology led to the suppression of Buddhism, and the role of Buddhism in the public domain gradually diminished. However, the importance and influence of Buddhism in both thought [...] Read more.
With the establishment of Chosŏn, the adoption of the Cheng-Zhu learning as its official ruling ideology led to the suppression of Buddhism, and the role of Buddhism in the public domain gradually diminished. However, the importance and influence of Buddhism in both thought and faith since the period of the Three Kingdoms were so great that it was very difficult to reduce them in a short period of time. Moreover, the state policy regarding Buddhism was a very complicated issue, involving the practical interests of the political powers of early Chosŏn. As a result, for a period of time after the foundation of the new dynasty, Buddhism still remained rather influential in many areas, not only as an ideology but also as a religion, and the differences in positions toward Buddhism between the king and the Confucian literati sometimes led to tensions and conflicts. Under these circumstances, Sejo, the seventh king of Chosŏn, came to power through a coup, purging many officials as well as his own blood relatives. Consequently, it was difficult for him to legitimize his kingship through Confucianism, which emphasizes socioethical values. Although the official role of Buddhism in the state was diminished, King Sejo sought to capitalize on its sociocultural influence, especially by endowing the phenomena of Buddhist wonders with political significance and using them as a means to enhance his authority. During his 14-year reign, Buddhist wonders, such as the appearance of the Buddha or the dividing of śarīra in Wŏn’gaksa Temple, Sangwŏnsa Temple, are believed to have occurred approximately 40 times. The perception that King Sejo’s merits led to the manifestation of wonder and that his subsequent gifts generated new merits for him likely served to increase his authority and strengthen his political power. Officials hardly resisted Sejo’s use of Buddhism, and as a result, the phenomenon of Buddhist wonder and related royal pardons occurred during his reign more than any other reign period during Chosŏn. The Buddhist wonders, along with large-scale pardons and gifts, allowed King Sejo to portray himself as a monarch with great benevolence and authority and also to use as a public tactic to comfort his people. Therefore, Buddhism served as a religion that helped the king create an ideal public image for himself, and with this Buddhism, the king could increase his royal authority. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious Wonder in Pre-Modern Korea: Its Social, Cultural, Political Aspects)
13 pages, 428 KiB  
Article
Monks’ Militia and the Spread of the Buddhist Yŏnghŏm (Wonder) during the Japanese Invasion in the Sixteenth Century
by Yong Tae Kim
Religions 2024, 15(6), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15060707 - 6 Jun 2024
Viewed by 693
Abstract
This paper explores the influence and significance of the activities of the monks’ militia during the Japanese invasion of Chosŏn, from the perspective of the religious efficacy of Buddhism and the spread of the Buddhist concept of wonder. After examining the concept that [...] Read more.
This paper explores the influence and significance of the activities of the monks’ militia during the Japanese invasion of Chosŏn, from the perspective of the religious efficacy of Buddhism and the spread of the Buddhist concept of wonder. After examining the concept that the monks’ militia played an important part in the war, fighting against enemies in major battles and constructing and defending fortresses, this paper proposes that the religious efficacy of Buddhism was revealed through the performance of burial and guiding ceremonies. Restoring the religious wonder of Buddhism, which had been criticized by the Confucian literati, Buddhist rituals for consoling the bereaved and praying for the welfare of the dead came to thrive. A dilemma existed between the principle of keeping the Buddhist precepts and the reality of fulfilling the demands of loyalty since the activities of the monks’ militia greatly damaged the Buddhist community. While killing was a direct infringement of the values of the sangha, the monks violated this precept in the cause of protecting the state and practicing loyalty. In this situation, where there was such a dilemma between the Buddhist and secular worlds, these monks’ prioritization of loyalty not only indicated the desperate national situation of the time but also reflected the social, cultural, and political context of the Confucian society of Chosŏn. This paper also explores how renowned generals of the monks’ militia, including Samyŏng Yujŏng, emerged as heroes among the people, and memories of their deeds were transmitted through wonder stories. Yujŏng was highly praised as a symbol of Buddhist loyalty, and his heroic story was expanded and reproduced among the population through folk tales and novels. While the intellectuals of Chosŏn who followed Confucian values did not believe those wonder stories, the trauma that the war left behind demanded the appearance of wondrous heroes who helped people overcome that trauma, and this demand enabled Yujŏng to emerge as one of these heroic figures. The activities of the monks’ militia, the religious efficacy of Buddhism, and the creation of the heroic narratives of the monks’ militia generals prove that Buddhism had a firm foundation in late Chosŏn society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Religious Wonder in Pre-Modern Korea: Its Social, Cultural, Political Aspects)
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