고려대학교

초록/요약

This work is to explain political meaning of the buddhist omen which happened at King Sejo’s reign in the early years of Choson. Contrary to general understandings, which pointed the Confucian growing in the early years of Choson, the buddhist omen based on the buddhist symbol, with forgiving and grace of the King, occurred over 40 times in the Sejosillok and other historical materials. In former studies. it was understanded as features of King Sejo. However, King Sejo cannot help choosing the buddhist symbol system at that time. There were three political problems to be solved, trouble with Neo-Confucian politics, resistance of people caused by centralizing policies, instability with Japan and North barbarians. In this time, the Buddhism was very useful. The buddhist omen was used as making King Sejo the absolute, easing people with representing King Sejo the mercy king, stressing King Sejo's aspect as Real Buddha to Japan and North barbarians. The buddhist omen occurred mainly after 8th year of King Sejo’s reign when centralizing policies were pushed powerfully. It is contrary to critical opinions of the buddhist omen before King Sejo’s reign, and King Sejo accepted the buddhist omen actively, instead of the confucian omen. The buddhist omen found on examples of successive wise kings and legends spreaded before Choson dynasty. It clarifies the meaning of the buddhist omen. King’s aspect made by the buddhist omen was reproducted. Forgiving and grace after the buddhist omen, mainly targeted people, and was especially accented after 7th year of King Sejo’s reign, when drought and disaster occurred. Also, Building Wongaksa temple at the center of the capital city, containing Buddha’s bones, was intended to make people memorize the buddhist omen. Showing amrita to envoies of Japan and North barbarians, then making them taste it, was also intended to display the buddhist omen of King Sejo. So far, we can see that the buddhist omen under King Sejo’s reign was closely related to King Sejo’s political intents. However, not like former prejudices, Sejo’s buddhist policies were limited to certain line, not contradicting the late king’s policy, confiscating lands and slaves of temples. King Sejo used the Buddhism approriately as politics.