Beophwagye

Beophwagye
Hangul
법화계
Hanja
法華系
RRBeophwagye
MRPŏphwagye

Beophwagye (Korean: 법화계; Korean: [pʌ̹.pʰwa̠.ɡ(j)e̞]) is a collective designition of new religious movements within Buddhism in South Korea that started in the 20th century. It refers to modern Buddhist religious organizations that treat the Lotus Sutra translated by Kumārajīva as the central sutra (Korean: 소의경전, 所依經典) with the option to accept two other related sutras[n 1] or other sutras, particularly the Avataṃsaka Sūtra,[1] a traditionally popular sutra among Korean Buddhists. Beophwagye denotes the nominalized Sino-Korean expression that means based on (teachings of) the Lotus Sutra. A modern Buddhist organization based in South Korea that centers around the teachings of the Lotus Sutra is called Beophwagye jongdan (Korean: 법화계 종단, 法華系 宗團). Most of the Beophwagye jongdan with large numbers of followers follow the Buddhist doctrines with influence from Nichiren Buddhism during the colonial rule under the Empire of Japan.

History

The Korean localization of Tiantai, the original Cheontae school of Buddhism that is based on the understanding of the teachings of the Lotus Sutra was present during the Goryeo. However, Buddhism was persecuted during the Joseon dynasty and the teaching of the Cheontae school of Buddhism collapsed.

Buddhism based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Tiantai philosophy[n 2] became available during the Japanese colonial administration of Korea.[3] Korean Buddhism at that time also had to compete with propagation from religious groups such as Japanese Buddhism, Christianity, and Shinto. For example, the Nichiren-based Buddhist sects in Korea mostly had Japanese people as shown in this chart shown the numbers of followers in late December of 1939.[4]

Nichiren Buddhist Sects
in Korea 		Number of Followers in Korea
(both Japanese and Koreans) 		Number of Korean Followers
in Korea
Nichiren-shū 17,633 73
Hokke-shū[n 3] 1,684 0
Honmon Hokke-shū[n 4] 6,859 1,056
Kempon Hokke-shū 449 14
Fuju-fuse[n 5] 137 0
Total 26,762 1,143

It was the 20th century Korean Buddhist monk, Hye-un (Korean: 혜운, 惠雲), who first created the modern day Beophwagye jongdan in Korea.[5][n 6] He was the leading Korean person during the Japanese colonial period to study the Lotus Sutra as understood by Nichiren priests of his time. His greatest influences were two Japanese Buddhist priests: one from Honmon Butsuryū-shū and the other one from Honmon Hokke-shū.[7]

There were conferences for the purpose of creating a modern Korean Buddhist tradition centered around the Lotus Sutra during the later part of the Japanese colonialism under Hye-un.[8] After the Korean independence, Daeseung Bulgyo Beophwahoe (Korean: 대승불교법화회, 大乘佛敎法華會)[n 7] was created under his leadership in 1945.[9][10] Its goal was to Korean-ize the Nichiren Buddhist doctrine and practices. However, the death of Hye-un negatively affected the operation of Daeseung Bulgyo Beophwahoe that later created Buddhist orders led by his subordinates that later became five major Beophwagye jondan today.[11]

There are other Beophwagye jongdan that did not root in Hye-un's involvements. The prominent examples are Yeongsan Beophwa Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교영산법화종)[n 8] and the revived Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교천태종).[13][14][15] However, the Cheontae Order that currently exists today can arguably be classified as a Tiantai-based Buddhist order similar to how Tendai Buddhism in Japan is its own classification.

List of Beophwagye jongdan

There are numerous organizations pertaining to the doctrinal understanding based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra today.[16]

  • Daeseung Bulgyo Beophwahoe (Korean: 대승불교법화회, 大乘佛敎法華會)
    • Gwaneum Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교관음종, 大韓佛敎觀音宗)[n 9]
      • Bulip Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교불입종, 大韓佛敎佛入宗)
    • Beophwa Order of Korean Buddhism [Daehan] (Korean: 대한불교법화종, 大韓佛敎法華宗)
    • Ilseung Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교일승종, 大韓佛敎一乘宗)
    • Beophwa Order of Korean Buddhism [Hanguk] (Korean: 한국불교법화종, 韓國佛敎法華宗)
  • Bomun Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교보문종, 大韓佛敎普門宗)[n 10]
  • Bulseung Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교불승종, 大韓佛敎佛乘宗)
  • Yeonhwa Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교연화종, 大韓佛敎蓮華宗)
  • Yeongsan Beophwa Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교영산법화종, 大韓佛敎靈山法華宗)
  • Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교천태종, 大韓佛敎天台宗)
  • Yeore Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 한국불교여래종, 韓國佛敎如來宗)

Influence of Nichiren Buddhism impacted today

Just like Nichiren-shū, Beophwagye jongdan express no discrimination between the Jeokmun (Korean: 적문 section, 迹門)[n 11] and Bonmun (Korean: 본문, 本門)[n 12] sections of the Lotus Sutra,[19] in accordance to the itchiha (一致派) approach in Nichiren Buddhism.[n 13]

Nichiren Buddhist organizations such as Honmon Butsuryū-shū[21] and Nichiren-shū exist in South Korea. However, Honmon Butsuryū-shū has weakened its presence and only one Nichiren-shū temple exists.[22][23]

Nichiren Shōshū also exists in South Korea, although it has a negative public image.[n 14]

Notes

  1. ^ Together with the Lotus Sutra, the other two sutras are Innumerable Meanings Sutra and Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra that collectively form the Threefold Lotus Sutra.
  2. ^ Japanese Tendai Buddhism was present in Korea during the Japanese colonial rule.[2]
  3. ^ It is called Hokke-shū Jinmon-ryū today.
  4. ^ It is a former merging of Honmon Butsuryū-shū, Honmon Hokke-shū that is based in Uboku-san Myōren-ji in Kyoto, and Hokke-shū Honmon-ryū that is based in both Kyoto and Tokyo.
  5. ^ It is called Nichiren-shū Fuju-fuse-ha that is based in Myōgaku-ji in Okayama today.
  6. ^ Born in 1898[5] and died in May 1947,[6] his secular name Kim Jeong-un (Korean: 김정운, 金正雲)
  7. ^ It means the Lotus Sutra Society/Organization of Mahayana Buddhism.
  8. ^ Its Korean founder was trained under Nipponzan-Myōhōji-Daisanga.[12]
  9. ^ It was originally called the Bulip Order of Korean Buddhism (Korean: 대한불교관음종, 大韓佛敎佛入宗). It also adopts the 80-volume Avataṃsaka Sūtra as its additional central sutra.[17]
  10. ^ It is the only Buddhist order in South Korea that consists of nuns instead of monks. This Buddhist order is also particular for having the a single chapter (chapter twenty-five) of the Lotus Sutra as its central sutra while accepting other sutras as minor sutras.[18]
  11. ^ It is also called Shakumon (迹門) in Japanese, it refers to the first fourteen chapters of the Lotus Sutra.
  12. ^ It is also called Honmon (本門) in Japanese, it refers to the later fourteen chapters of the Lotus Sutra.
  13. ^ For example, in today's case of Gwaneum Order of Korean Buddhism, Nichiren's reverence of the second chapter (in the Shakumon section) and the sixteenth chapter (in the Honmon section) of the Lotus Sutra is still important.[20]
  14. ^ Nichiren Shōshū in South Korea is known for promoting chinilpa position in Korean history.[24]

Further reading

  • Goh (고), Byoungchul (병철) (June 2020). "한국 법화계 교단의 성립과 대한불교천태종" [Understanding the Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism in Religions for Lotus-Sutra in Korea]. Buddhist Culture and Art (불교문예연구) (in Korean). 15. Seoul: Dongbang Culture University Buddhist Culture and Art Research Center (동방대학원대학교 불교문예연구소): 11–49.
  • Jin (진), Cheol-seung (철승) (April 2001). "한국신종교의 현상과 포교전략 ⑫ "해방후 불교계종단의 변천과 현황 2"" [Phenomena and Propagation Strategies of New Religious Movements ⑫ "Post-Independence Developments and Current States of Buddhist Sects Chapter 2"]. Beophwe-wa Seolbeop (법회와 설법) (in Korean). Seoul: Jogye Order. pp. 62–72.
  • Min (민/閔), Sun-euy (순의/舜義) (June 2020). "한국 법화계 불교종단의 역사와 성격" [The History and Character of Korean Lotus-Sutra Buddhist Orders]. Buddhist Culture and Art (불교문예연구) (in Korean). 15. Seoul: Dongbang Culture University Buddhist Culture and Art Research Center (동방대학원대학교 불교문예연구소): 51–112.
  • "해방50년 불교50년-근대불교제종파②" [After 50 Years of Liberation and 50 Years of Buddhism ― Other Modern Buddhist Sects (Part 2)]. Beopbo Sinmun (in Korean). Seoul. 2004-08-10.
  • "대한불교관음종 > 종단안내 > 소의경전" [Gwaneum Order of Korean Buddhism > Guide > Main Scriptures]. Gwaneum Order of Korean Buddhism (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on 2025-01-19.
  • Yoon (윤), Gi-yeop (기엽) (1998). "일본 법화계(法華系) 신종교의 한국 전파와 교의(敎義) ― 국내 본문불립종ㆍ영우회ㆍ입정교성회의 포교활동과 교의 ―" [Propagation and Doctrine of Japanese New Religions for Lotus Sutra Group in Korea ― Honmon Butsuryū-shū, Reiyukai, Rissho Kosei-kai’s Propagation and Doctrine in Korea ―]. Journal of the Korean Academy of New Religions (신종교연구) (in Korean). 26. Pocheon: The Korean Academy of New Religions (한국신종교학회): 271–298.

References

  1. ^ "화엄경" [Avataṃsaka Sūtra]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). The Academy of Korean Studies. 이들은 모두 우리나라에서 널리 유통되었다. [They (i.e. the two versions of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra) were commonly distributed in Korea.]
  2. ^ Goh Byoungchul (page 21) "일본 법화계(일련종, 천태종) 교단이 조선에 유입되었음을 알 수 있다." [The Japanese Buddhist organizations such as Nichiren Buddhism and Tendai did indeed enter Chōsen (Korea under Japanese rule).]
  3. ^ Jin Cheol-seung (page 64) "일제 시기 조선에 진출한 일본의 법화계(日蓮系) 종단인 본문법화종(本門法華宗)이나 본문불립강(本門佛立講) 등에 의해 종파로서의 법화계 신앙이 새롭게 소개되었다. 1920 - 30년대에 이들 일본 종단의 조선포교소에서 법화신앙을 …" "During the Japanese colonial era, Japanese Lotus Sutra-based sects such as Honmon Hokke-shū and Honmon Butsuryū-shū re-introduced Lotus Sutra-based teachings in Korea. During the 1920s and 1930s, these Japanese Buddhist sects established missionary centers in Korea and [propagated] Lotus Sutra-based teachings …"
  4. ^ Goh Byoungchul (page 20)
  5. ^ a b Min Sun-euy (page 66) "선행 연구들에 따르면 현대 한국의 법화종은 김정운(金正雲, 1898~1947)이라는 인물로부터 비롯된다. [The previous research attempts suggest that the Beophwa Order was created by Kim Jeong-un (1898 — 1947).]
  6. ^ Min Sun-euy (page 68) "… 혜운은 … 1947년 5월 … 입적하였다." [… Hye-un … passed away … in May 1947.]
  7. ^ Min Sun-euy (pages 68-69) "그런데 주목할 만한 사실은 혜운이 평생에 걸쳐 두 명의 일본 승려와 깊은 인연을 맺었다는 점이다. 그는 1924년경 일본 일련종계의 본문불립강 학송사 주지인 일본승려 야스다(安田)의 도움으로, 1932년부터는 본문법화종 본능사 주지인 우에다(上田, 법명은 혜량 惠亮)의 도움으로 법화신앙의 체계를 세웠다고 한다." [However, the noticeable fact is that Hye-un had intimate ties with two Japanese monks. He established the Lotus Sutra-based faith [of his own] through the help of the head priest Yasuda (安田), of the [Korean-based] Honmon Butsuryū-shū Haksong-sa Temple (鶴松寺) and the help of the head priest of the [Korean branch temple of] Honmon Hokke-shū Honnō-ji, Ueda (上田, his dharma name was 惠亮).]
  8. ^ Beopbo 2004 "즉 일제하에서 법화운동을 편 인사들이 한국적 법화신앙을 정립하고자 몇차의 회동을 가졌으나 뜻을 이루지 못한채 광복을 맞자 다시 단체를 결성한다." [Thus, there were several congregations among [Korean] followers of the Beophwa movement to evolve their beliefs into more Korean flairs during the Japanese colonial era, but it failed and the independence arrived that later created an organization [devoted to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra-inspired beliefs] by them once again.]
  9. ^ Jin Cheol-seung (page 65) "따라서 해방 후 한국에서 자생한 법화계 종단은 모두 김정운과 김혜선이 주도한 대승불교법화회에 뿌리를 두고 있다." [Therefore after the independence, all of the natively-grown Beophwagye organizations are rooted from Daeseung Bulgyo Beophwahoe of Kim Jeong-un (a.k.a. Hye-un) and Kim Hye-seon (the younger brother of Hye-un).]
  10. ^ Jung (정/鄭), Yeong-sik (영식/榮植) (January 2009). "한일 양국의 근대불교와 신흥종교의 성립에 관한 비교연구 ― 법화경신앙을 중심으로 ―" [The Research about Relation of Modern Buddhism and New Religious Groups in Korea and Japan ― Especially about the Lotus Sutra ―]. Korean Thought And Culture (한국사상과 문화) (in Korean). 46. Seoul: The Society Korean Thought And Culture (한국사상문화학회): 53. 우리나라에서는 고려시대에 大覺國師 義天에 의해 천태종이 도입되었으나, 조선시대에 禪敎兩宗으로 통합되면서 천태종의 법맥은 사라지고 만다. 그 후 다시 법화계 종단이 등장한 것은 1920년대이다. 그러나 큰 성과를 거두지 못하였고, 조직적인 법화단체가 성립된 것은 해방 후인 1945년 12월 大乘佛敎法華會가 성립된 것이 최초였다. [In Korea, although the Cheontae (T'ien-t'ai) School of Buddhism was spread during the Goryeo dynasty by Uicheon, its dharma lineage died during the Joseon dynasty via the consolidation process that resulted in the rise of Seon-Gyo Buddhist Order. After that, it was during the 1920s that a Beophwagye movement [that was autonomous and indigenous] reappeared [in Korea]. But it did not result into a success and the post-independence formation of a Beophwagye sect, Daeseung Bulgyo Beophwahoe, in December 1945 was the first recorded sect [in modern Korean history].]
  11. ^ Min Sun-euy (page 65) "III. 한국 법화계 불교종단의 역사적 전개: 1문, 2파, 3+1회, 4+1종" [III. The Historical Development of Beophwagye Buddhist Sects in Korea: 1 Gate, 2 Factions, 3+1 Assemblies, and 4+1 Sects]
  12. ^ "법화조사님" [The Founder, [Lee] Beophwa]. Yeongsan Beophwa-sa Temple (in Korean). Seoul. … 일본국 일본산 묘법사 개창 조사이신 등정 일달 큰스님 문하에 입문 출가 … [[The Korean founder] was ordained as a monk under Nichidatsu Fujii of the Nipponzan-Myōhōji-Daisanga in Japan …]
  13. ^ Kim (김), Seo-yul (서율) (December 2023). "한국불교 법화계 종단의 시식의례 연구 ― 서울 영산법화사를 중심으로 ―" [A Study on Sisik (施食) Rituals in the Beobhwa Order of Korean Buddhism ― Focusing on Seoul Yeongsan Beophwasa Temple ―]. Intangible Culture (무형문화연구) (in Korean). 11. Seoul: Institute of Buddhist Ritual & Culture (불교의례문화연구소): 104. 같은 현교 종단이라고 분류되는 한국불교 전통 종단과 법화계 종단의 의식에는 차이가 있다. [Despite both being classified as exoteric Buddhism, there are differences between ceremonies from traditional Korean organizations and ceremonies from other Beophwagye organizations.]
  14. ^ Min Sun-euy (page 58) "… 이 중 영산법화종을 제외한 5개 종단이 김정운의 대승불교법화회에서 갈라져 나온 것으로 파악하였다." [… Except for the Yongsan Beophwa Order, these five sects are confirmed to be broken away from Daeseung Bulgyo Beophwahoe that founded by Kim Jeong-un.]
  15. ^ Beopbo 2004 "앞의 4개 종단과는 달리 대한불교천태종은 독거의 인맥과 배경을 가지고 창종된다. 그러나 법화사상을 근본으로 한다는 점에서는 앞의 종단들과 다를바 없다." [Unlike the four aforementioned sects [being born out of Daeseung Bulgyo Beophwahoe], the Cheontae Order was founded based on its unique personal connnections. However, due to having the doctrinal foundation being pertaining to the ideas of the Lotus Sutra, it is not different from the four aforementioned sects.]
  16. ^ Kim (김/金), Bang-ryong (방룡/邦龍) (1998). "한국불교계 신생종단의 성립과 사상" [Establishment and Thoughts on New Sects of South Korean Buddhism]. Hanguk Jonggyo (한국종교) (in Korean). 23. Iksan: Wonkwang University Research Center of Religions (원광대학교 종교문제연구소): 198. … 法華系의 종단으로 1) 大韓佛敎觀音宗 2) 大韓佛敎法華宗 3) 大韓佛敎普門宗 4) 大韓佛敎佛乘宗 5) 大韓佛敎佛入宗 6) 大韓佛敎蓮華宗 7) 大韓佛敎靈山法華宗 8) 大韓佛敎一乘宗 9) 大韓佛敎天台宗 10) 韓國佛敎法華宗 11) 韓國佛敎如來宗 등… [… the Beophwagye sects [in South Korea] are Gwaneum Order, Beophwa Order (Daehan), Bomun Order, Bulseung Order, Bulip Order, Yeonhwa Order, Yeongsan Beophwa Order, Ilseung Order, Cheontae Order, Beophwa Order (Hanguk), Yeore Order, etc. …]
  17. ^ Gwaneum Order > Main Sutras "묘법연화경(妙法蓮華經) / 대방광불화엄경(大方廣佛華嚴經)" Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra (Lotus Sutra) / Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra (Buddha's Fine Garland Sutra)
  18. ^ "대한불교보문종 > 소의경전" [Bomun Order of Korean Buddhism > Main Scriptures]. Bomun Order of Korean Buddhism (in Korean). Seoul. 소의경전은 『묘법연화경』 「관세음보살보문품」으로 하고 기타 대승경전의 연구를 제한하지 않는다. [The main scripture is the [twenty-fifth chapter] 'Universal Gate of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara' of the Lotus Sutra, although it [i.e. the Bomun Order] does not restrict the study of other Mahayana Buddhist sutras.]
  19. ^ Goh Byoungchul (page 40) "그렇지만 한국의 법화계 교단들이 적문과 본문을 엄격히 구분하지 않는다는 점, …" [However, the fact that the Beophwagye sects in Korea do not strictly discriminate between Jeokmun/Shakumon and Bonmun/Honmon, …]
  20. ^ Gwaneum Order > Main Sutras "… 적문에 서는 ‘방편품’이 가장 중요하고 본문은 ‘여래수량품’이 가장 중요한 품이다." [… the [second] 'Skillful Means' chapter is the most important chapter in the Shakumon section and the [sixteenth] 'Life Span of the Tathagata' chapter is the most important chapter in the Honmon section.]
  21. ^ Yoon Gi-yeop (page 275) "그런데 당시 본문불립종은 서울의 학송사 주지로 있던 오카노 닛싱이 한국인 여신도 강을선(姜乙先, 1904~1984)에게 주지 직을 인계하고 떠남으로써 해방 후에도 그 명맥을 이어갈 수 있게 되었다." [However, when it came to [the presence of] Honmon Butsuryū-shū [in Japanese-occupied Korea] at that time, the [Japanese] head priest of Haksong-sa Temple (鶴松寺), Okano Nissin (岡野日眞), who planned to return to Japan, transferred the head priest position and operation of the temple in question to a female adherent, Kang Eul-seon (강을선/ 姜乙先, 1904 — 1984), therefore guaranteed the survival [of Honmon Butsuryū-shū] in Korea after its independence.]
  22. ^ Yoon Gi-yeop (page 278) 이처럼 한국 본문불립종은 오랜 포교역사에 비해 교세는 미미한 형편이고, 학송사가 교단의 명맥을 이어가는 실정이다. [As such, The Korean branch of Honmon Butsuryū-shū has a tiny presence despite the long history of missionary activities, to the point that the legacy is [merely] preserved through its Haksong-sa Temple.]
  23. ^ "世界の御首題　韓国編" [Goshudai around the World: South Korea]. Nichiren-shū Official Website (in Japanese). Tokyo: Nichiren-shū. 2022-01-11. …大韓佛教寶土寺（別称：仏國山寶土寺）… [… Daehan Bulgyo [Ilryeonjong] Boto-sa Temple (a.k.a.: Fukkoku-san Hōto-ji Temple) …]
  24. ^ "집단확진된 '일련정종', 알고보니 日제국주의 찬양 단체?" [The 'Nichiren Shoshu' That Experienced Massive [COVID] Spread, It Turns Out To Be A Japanese Imperialism-Praising Organization?]. No Cut News (in Korean). Seoul. 2020-09-08. 2014년 7월 서울시는 이 단체의 법인 설립을 허가했다가 독립유공자유족회 등 시민단체로부터 거센 항의를 받았다. 일본 제국주의를 옹호하는 단체의 법인 허가는 문제가 있다는 것이다. [In July 2014, the Seoul Metropolitan Government gave approval to the establishment of a corporate entity [of a Nichiren Shoshu-based organization], but it received strong protests from civic groups such as the Bereaved Family Association of Independence Activists. The permission of a corporate organization that advocates Japanese imperialism is appeared to be rather problematic.]
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