신궁봉경회의 활동과 제신 논리의 변용

Abstract

This study is about Shingungbonggyeonghoe, an organization whose goal was to build a shrine in Korea for the sake of amity between Korea and Japan and enlightenment of Koreans. Specifically, by comparing the purposes of enshrinement of Dakahashi Hisashi and Lee Junyong, the difference between the perception of the shrine of the two was examined, and despite the fundamental difference, this study revealed what led them to cooperate. The purpose of the enshrinement of Dakahashi and Lee was different. Dakahashi was eager to build a shrine enshrining the Japanese national god, Amaterasu Omikami in Korea, in order to ‘civilize’ Koreas in a religious way. Meanwhile, Lee focused on the idea of enshrining national founders, Dangun and Taejo, and tried to use Anam Shrine and Shingungbonggyeonghoe as his political background. Despite this difference, two created Anam Shrine, a hybrid religious space of Japanese Shinto and Korean modern Dangun belief through Shingungbonggyeonghoe. This combination was made through promoting spiritual amity by enshrining national ancestors, which has distinctive ‘modern’ features. Shinto embodied Japanese nationalism by enshrining the Japanese national god, Amaterasu Omikami. As Japan expands its influence on Korea, it transformed into a means of spiritual ‘civilization’ of Koreans. Meanwhile, confronting the national crisis, Dangun belief also transformed into a religion of national ancestor symbolizing the union of nations. Furthermore, the hybrid space was possible for the sake of two people, Dakahashi and Lee, and the circumstances they had to overcome. As a Japanese in Korea, Dakahashi had to elicit Koreans’ cooperation to achieve his goal. Meanwhile, Lee witnessed the power gap between Korea and Japan during his asylum, and was desperate to regain political power. The form of ‘modernity’ of the two people was different, but the circumstances they had to overcome made them cooperate despite the distortion and compromise.