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영어

Jeju people's steady religious faithfulness contributed to the quickening of the modern Jeju Buddhism. At the critical period of the quickening of modern Jeju Buddhism, the foundation of the Kwaneum Temple was the fruit of long-cherished desire of independent Jeju Buddhism. The two centuries before the foundation of the Kwaneum Temple was called the period of Buddhism Absence, but Jeju Buddhism maintained its identity melted into folk religions despite the anti-buddhism policy of the Chosun Kindom. The foundation of the Kwanem Temple in 1908 marks the beginning of Jeju Buddhism in full swing. The foundation of the Kwaneum Temple clearly reveals the buddhistic features of Jeju people. The buddhist monk, Bong Ryeogwan, had an idea to build the temple while he was giving buddhistic service in the Haewol cave. The great buddhist priest Woon, Kim Seokyoon, also helped with the foundation of the temple. Jeju people's strong desire to develop buddhism surmounted many unexpected difficulties. When the Beobjeong Temple was founded, a large number of buddhist monks who were born in Jeju were produced, which meant the new start of Jeju Buddhism worthy of the name. The first head buddhist priest of the Kwaneum Temple, An Dowol, played a key role in developing modern Jeju Buddhism. He brought Buddhist statues and pictures of Buddha in 1910 from the Yonhwa Temple in Tongyoung City, Kyeongsang Province through the acquaintance with Kim Seukyoon. He had paved the way for the development of Jeju Buddhism and the Kwaneum Temple since 1910. The foundation of the Kwaneum Temple and Buddhist missionary activities by An Dowol and Bong Ryeogwan had a significant influence on many aspects of the Jeju society. Thanks to their efforts, the Kwaneum Temple played an important role in the development of Jeju Buddhism. Modern Jeju Buddhism came to see a new turning point through the foundation of the Kwaneum Temple. Despite the anti-Buddhism policy of the Chosun Kingdom, Jeju people's wishful desire and buddhists' religious faithfulness were melted into the foundation of the Kwaneum Temple.