A Study on the political issues associated with the reconstruction of the Chun-kwan and the Bo-rim Buddhist temples located in Jang-Heuing during the ninth century

Abstract

This study focuses on political issues associated with the reconstruction of the Chun-kwan and the Be-rim Buddhist temples located in Jang-Heuing during the ninth century. The Chun-kwan temple was reconstructed with the support from large landowners around the Chun-kwan mountain area in Jang-heuing. These landowners supported the principles of ‘the Churn-kwan Bo-sal brief’ which was public-oriented and practical. Later the temple was associated with the Jang Bo-Go’s Chung-Hae-Jin armed force, and was deeply involved in King Shin-moo’ s struggle for political power.<BR> The Be-rim temple was built by a Buddhist monk, Won-Phyo, in 759 AD (the 18th year of King Kyung-Duck’ s reign). Won-Phyo worked for King Kyung-Duck’ in establishing an absolute monarchy. This greatly influenced the later political orientation of people associated with the Bo-rim temple. During the mid ninth century, when King Hun-an came to the throne, political instability increased.<BR> This was due to multiple factors including the aftereffects of repeated power struggles, the unstability of the south-west region after the closure of Chung-Hae-Jin, the death of Kim Yang who was high-ranked politician associated with King Moo-yeul and had influence in Moo-joo area.<BR> King Hun-an who was a descendent of King Moo-yeul was closed to Chae-jing who valued the legacy of ‘Ka-Ji-San-Moon’ and was in a close relationship with landowners in Moo-joo area. King Hun-an noted the location (between Moo-joe and Chung-Hae-Jin) of and past history of the people associated with the Bo-rim temple (more close to the King rather than to Jang Bo-Go). King Hun-an therefore started to reconstruct the Be-rim temple with a view to integrate landowners between Kyung-joo and Moo-joo areas. In this process of reconstruction, an image of Buddha (made with steel) was constructed to represent that the Buddha governs the world, thereby subserving the King’ s political power.