This study divides history of Zen in the late Silla into three periods and arranges the characteristics of the three periods : ‘period accepting Zen(禪宗 受容期)’ ― from King Heongdeok till King Shinmu, ‘period opening Zen sect(禪門 開創期)’ ― from King Munseong till Queen Jinseong, and ‘period dividing Zen sect(禪門 分化期)’ ― from King Hyogong till the period of struggle between the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. In ‘period accepting Zen’, early monks of Zen including Doui(道義) or Hongchuk(洪陟) transmitted and introduced Namjongseon(南宗禪). Their periodic task was for Silla to accept the society of Silla. Doui could not gain support from the royal family of Silla but went into retirement to Mt. Buk(北山). However, he cultivated literary men and contributed to the settlement of Zen in Silla. Meanwhile, Hongchuk opened Silsangsanmun(實相山門) evaluated as the first Zen sect with the support of King Heungduk and laid the foundation for the development of Zen. ‘Period opening Zen sect’ is the period to experience the farmers’ strife during Queen Jinseong after King Munseong. The task of monks in that period was to settle and develop Zen in Silla. To achieve this, the monks had ties with powers all over the society to develop Zen sect. They cooperated with various social powers including the royal family of Silla as well as local Hojok(豪族). As a result, they could open so-called ‘nine mountain monasteries’. And as Zen became settled and developed, there were more and more local monks growing as high priests only by doing studies inside. ‘Period dividing Zen sect’ is the period when the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea founded by Gyeonhwon(甄萱) and Gungye(弓裔) during early King Hyogong was established and Wanggeon(王建) took the throne to develop severe struggle. The monks in this period made a political decision to be united with the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea according to their political pursuit. Though it had an unavoidable aspect for the periodic circumstances, the monks showed complex aspects according to their recognition on reality and pursuit. As a result, those who were in student-teacher relationship or student-student relationship in the same temple of Zen sect sometimes took a different political path. Furthermore, as the second or third generation monks cultivated under Gaechangjo began activities, the realms of Zen sect became divided actively. (Daegaya Museum/jdl1029@yumail.ac.kr)

This study divides history of Zen in the late Silla into three periods and arranges the characteristics of the three periods : ‘period accepting Zen(禪宗 受容期)’ ― from King Heongdeok till King Shinmu, ‘period opening Zen sect(禪門 開創期)’ ― from King Munseong till Queen Jinseong, and ‘period dividing Zen sect(禪門 分化期)’ ― from King Hyogong till the period of struggle between the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. In ‘period accepting Zen’, early monks of Zen including Doui(道義) or Hongchuk(洪陟) transmitted and introduced Namjongseon(南宗禪). Their periodic task was for Silla to accept the society of Silla. Doui could not gain support from the royal family of Silla but went into retirement to Mt. Buk(北山). However, he cultivated literary men and contributed to the settlement of Zen in Silla. Meanwhile, Hongchuk opened Silsangsanmun(實相山門) evaluated as the first Zen sect with the support of King Heungduk and laid the foundation for the development of Zen. ‘Period opening Zen sect’ is the period to experience the farmers’ strife during Queen Jinseong after King Munseong. The task of monks in that period was to settle and develop Zen in Silla. To achieve this, the monks had ties with powers all over the society to develop Zen sect. They cooperated with various social powers including the royal family of Silla as well as local Hojok(豪族). As a result, they could open so-called ‘nine mountain monasteries’. And as Zen became settled and developed, there were more and more local monks growing as high priests only by doing studies inside. ‘Period dividing Zen sect’ is the period when the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea founded by Gyeonhwon(甄萱) and Gungye(弓裔) during early King Hyogong was established and Wanggeon(王建) took the throne to develop severe struggle. The monks in this period made a political decision to be united with the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea according to their political pursuit. Though it had an unavoidable aspect for the periodic circumstances, the monks showed complex aspects according to their recognition on reality and pursuit. As a result, those who were in student-teacher relationship or student-student relationship in the same temple of Zen sect sometimes took a different political path. Furthermore, as the second or third generation monks cultivated under Gaechangjo began activities, the realms of Zen sect became divided actively. (Daegaya Museum/jdl1029@yumail.ac.kr)

Late Silla, History of Zen, nine mountain monasteries, Zen Monks, Periodic Division