The Mañjuśrī Assembly (Munsuhoe 文殊會) in Fourteenth-Century Korea: Its Philosophical Underpinnings and Implications
This paper delves into the philosophical foundations and implications of the Mañjuśrī Assembly held during King Kongmin’s reign (1351–1374), with a focus on the theories of karma and geomancy. Employing literary criticism, this study aims to critically examine the relationship between the king and t...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
University of Hawai'i Press
2024
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| In: |
Journal of Korean religions
Year: 2024, Volume: 15, Issue: 1, Pages: 41-92 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This paper delves into the philosophical foundations and implications of the Mañjuśrī Assembly held during King Kongmin’s reign (1351–1374), with a focus on the theories of karma and geomancy. Employing literary criticism, this study aims to critically examine the relationship between the king and the Assembly, reevaluate existing research on the ritual, propose new perspectives, and analyze its philosophical background and significance. The Mañjuśrī Assembly was meticulously planned and executed on a grand scale in the presence of the king. Motivated by King Kongmin’s deep commitment to Buddhism and guided by the monk Sin Ton (1323–1371), the Assembly sought to address the king’s worldly desires, particularly by praying for the birth of a prince to secure the throne and strengthen political hegemony. Existing research has proposed various interpretations, including Flower Garland thought, esoteric Buddhism, and geomancy. However, many of these claims lack sufficient documentary evidence or are based on scanty sources. This paper emphasizes the theories of karma and geomancy while examining the limitations of these interpretations, such as theoretical ambiguities associated with the Mañjuśrī Assembly. In fourteenth-century Korea, the Mañjuśrī Assembly was grounded philosophically in the theories of karma, a Buddhist concept of skillful means, and geomancy, a pseudoscience. It illustrates how these ideas were adapted to serve the interests of influential figures like kings and monks, showcasing the transformative nature of philosophical concepts to suit specific agendas. |
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| ISSN: | 2167-2040 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of Korean religions
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