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영어

Master Baek, Yong-seong(1864-1940) has been studied mainly in Buddhism. This paper expanded the view to the national movement under Japanese imperialism. Followings are some of the essential facts. First, he played a main role in the national movement for independence. He started it by writing 『Guiwong-jungjong 歸源正宗』. He criticized the prevalence of Christianity as invading Korean traditional religion. Next, he was against Won Order, which attempted to merge Korean Buddhism with Japanese Buddhism, and participated in the propaganda section as a president. Furthermore, he was one of 33 representatives in 3.1 Independence Movement. As a result, he had suffered in the prison for a long time, but never surrendered, and continued the movement. Second, Master exerted developing the national spirit. The Japanese government tried to make Korean Buddhism like that of Japan. It declared the temple law nationwide, and formed the structure of 31 main temples. Japan deleted the requirement that monks had to be remained single, making Korean monks got married. Master submitted a white paper warning twice. which became the origin of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism after emancipation. Third, Master conducted a movement for propagation of Korean Language (Hangeul). During the prohibited period of Hangeul, he translated sutras into Hangeul and propagated them widely. His translation of sutras was not limited in Buddhism, but also was a national independence movement. Last, Master Baek, Yong-seong exerted himself to national economic independence movement. He participated in the minor business, while managing farm in order to practice Seon(Zen)-agriculture Buddhism. Temples' economic independence and farm production were a part of independence movement. Therefore, all of his activities were evaluated that they were not limited to Buddhism, but also were the process of national independence movement.