Buddhism in DPRK

Boasting more than 250 million followers worldwide, Buddhism in the DPRK dates back to around 372 A.D., when a Chinese monk named Sundo visited Koguryo, one of the ancient Three Kingdoms which existed in the northern Korea from 37 B.C. to 668 A.D.

In-depth Info on Buddhism in Korea

What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a philosophy of life expounded in the 6th century B.C. by Gautama Shiddartha, an Indian prince who became the "Buddha" or the "Enlightened One" at the age of 35.

Though very complicated and esoteric in its definitive dogma, Buddhism,

in a nut shell, serves to liberate "sentient beings" from suffering through renunciation of worldly desires.

Rejecting the theory of rebirth in an endless cycle of reincarnations, a feature of India's Hinduism, it sought to achieve the absorption of the "enlightened soul" into nirvana: a state of perfect bliss in which an individual becomes absorbed into the supreme spirit.

Buddha taught that freedom from one's self liberates the heart from greed and delusion and opens the mind to wisdom and the heart to kindness and compassion.

How Buddhism was introduced to Korea?

With the spread of Buddhism from its original home of India, however, all sorts of local superstitions and theological systems were incorporated into it, producing an elaborate array of deities, saviors, saints, heavens and hells that the founder of the religion, Prince Gautama, had never mentioned. (Buddhism originally does not entail any theistic world-view.)

These interpretation of original Buddhism are called Mahayana or the Greater Vehicle and it was these sects of Buddhism that were introduced to Korea around 372 A.D. by missionary monks from India and China.

No doubt Buddhism had to devise a system of rewards, punishments and rules that would appeal to the simple and uneducated more than the esoteric and ascetic doctrines that the founder had intended.

At the time Buddhism entered the peninsula in the fourth century A.D., Korea was nearing the middle of the Three Kingdoms period, and was soon to be unified as a single nation under Shilla, the southeastern kingdom. Primarily for geographical reasons, Shilla was the last of the three to be penetrated by this foreign religion.

By the time Shilla unified Korea under one government in 668 A.D., Buddhism had been embraced as its state religion, though governmental systems were already being run along Confucian lines.

Buddhism vs. Confucianism

Because Buddhists held sway during the era of the Ri Dynasty (1392-1910), Buddhism was to blame for such national disasters as corruption and met with strong protests from the followers of Confucianism.

Though Buddhists contributed to national defense, for instance, in the 1592-98 battle against Japanese invasion, official oppression of Buddhism continued until the last years of the Ri Dynasty, and the Buddhists saw their political clout rapidly weakened in face of surging internal challenges by the Confucians.

Buddhist monks were ranked in the lowest social class and were not permitted to enter the capital. The severe oppression drove the temples into remote mountainous areas, making Buddhism a monastic religion rather than a religion for laymen. This historical background accounts for the fact that major Buddhist temples are in relatively inaccessible areas.

Buddhist Temples in DPRK

Whether you are a devout Buddhist or not, Buddhist temples in the DPRK could be cited as one must-see sightseeing spots in the country as they will welcome visitors with their time-honored solemnity as well as with their priceless cultural heritage.

For a better understanding of all things Buddhism in the DPRK, PK will introduce a series of related photo articles from this issue in weekly serials.

Taesongsankwangbop Temple

Kwangboksa.jpg (36745 バイト)

Known as the oldest temple in Pyongyang, Taesongsankwanbop Temple was built in 392 A.D. by Koguryo's 19th king Kwangedo.

Though completely destroyed by U.S. bombing during the 1950-53 Korean War, the temple was rebuilt in August 1990.

According to epitaphs inscribed on a couple of stone monuments, which survived the bombardment, the temple had been burnt down in 1700 but reconstructed in 1727.

With the "Gate of Emancipation" at its entrance, the temple has an "Octagonal Five-Story Pagoda" in its center yard.

Myohyangsan Pohyon Temple

Pohyonsa.jpg (29349 バイト)

Located near Mt. Myohang in North Pyongan Province, Myohyangsan Pohyon Temple was build in 1042 and was refurbished in 1765.

In its yard stands the Taeung Hall where the famous "Octagonal 13-Story Pagoda," the tallest multi-storied pagoda in the DPRK, is preserved.

The pagoda is 8.58 meters high and preserves an architectural style unique to the Koryo era in form, decoration and other respects.

The most attracting feature of the temple, however, is "Tripitaka Koreana," the world's oldest collection of Buddhist scriptures called "Palmantaejanggyong" in Korean.

Carefully preserved in the Myohyangsan History Museum, located within a stone's throw away from the temple, the history of Tripitaka Koreana dates back to the 13th century when the Mongols invaded Korea.

Upon the arrival of the mighty Mongol aggressors, the king and the court took refuge to the island of Kanghwado, where they implored divine assistance by undertaking the immense project of carving the all volumes of Buddhist scriptures on wooden blocks for printing.

Meanwhile, Haeinsa temple in south Korea also has the wooden printing plates of the Tripitaka Koreana.

The set of 81,258 wood blocks, which took 16 years to complete, is considered one of the most outstanding masterpieces in the history of Buddhism. Nevertheless, this act of piety did not result in the defeat of the Mongols, who made Korea a vassal state.

Back Home