百濟 熊津時期의 정국과 大通寺 창건

Abstract

Daetongsa is one of the Buddhist temples of Paekche whose date of foundation and relevant information are well preserved. This paper examines, based on the records of Samguk Yusa, the history of the foundation of the Buddhist temple and its meaning in the context of the political situation of the Ungjin period and Paekche’s close ties to Yang(梁). Paekche had dynamic relations, both political and cultural, with Yang. King Muryeong(武寧) and King Seong(聖) dispatched envoys to Yang, namely the Southern Yang Dynasty, in order to be fully invested with kingship and, as a result, could maintain friendly relations with it. In doing so, they could introduce Buddhism and a variety of skills from China while holding Koguryŏ in check. Under the reign of King Muryeong, the policy on Koguryŏstarted to pay off and the overall situation became stabilized after transferring the capital to Ungjin. Along with this, the introduction of, and the development of a deep understanding of, Buddhism created a proper atmosphere for the foundation of Daetongsa in the 21st year of King Seong’s reign(527). King Beopheung(法興) of Silla also founded a Buddhist temple named ‘Heongryoonsa(興輪寺) at the same time as the foundation of Daetongsa in 527. They were the first temples in both countries that could be called ‘Buddhist’temples in a strict sense and it is very interesting to find that they either begun to be constructed or were completed in 527 and that the roof tiles used for them were made by the same techniques. And what is common between the constructions of the two temples is Yang. The cultural network between Yang and Paekche extended into Silla and the Japanese Archipelago. Paekche seems to have aimed at taking the lead in the war against Koguryŏwhile holding Silla and Yang in check by making the most of the advanced culture and institutions from Yang. Daetongsa is not just one of the many Buddhist temples King Seong built. It provided an opportunity for Buddhism to prosper in Paekche and this is what I want to show in this paper. The foundation of Daetongsa is of significant importance in the history of Buddhism in Paekche. King Seong wanted to realize Buddha’s Land in his country by constructing Daetongsa. Eventually, King Seong strengthened royal authority by establishing Daetongsa. The foundation of Daetongsa, which was a result of Paekche’s close political and cultural connections to Yang, supplied political and ideological fuel for the two kings to consolidate royal authority and raise their country’s status to a higher level.