Constructing Korea’s Won Buddhism as a New Religion: Self-differentiation and Inter-religious Dialogue
Issue: Vol 3 No. 1 (2012)
Journal: International Journal for the Study of New Religions
Subject Areas: Religious Studies
Abstract:
Won Buddhism is one of the largest and most respected of Korea’s new religions, yet it still encounters difficulties in wining recognition as a new religion because of the use of Buddhism in its name and some Buddhist elements in its doctrines. To strengthen its claim to independent religious status, Won Buddhism makes sure its worship halls, its rituals, and its clerical wear are quite different from what is seen in traditional Korean Buddhism. It also emphasizes elements in its teachings that differ from those of traditional Buddhism. In addition, over the last few decades, it has become one of the most active promoters of inter-religious dialogue in Korea. Acting as an independent partner in inter-religious dialogue strengthens Won Buddhism’s claim that it is not simply another Buddhist denomination but is a separate and distinct religion in its own right.
Author: Don Baker
References :
Adams, Daniel J.
2009 “Won Buddhism in Korea: A New Religious Movement Comes of Age.” Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch 84: 1–35.
Association of Korean Buddhist Orders.
Accessed at http://kboa.or.kr/ on September 12, 2012
Baker, Don.
2002 “Hananim, Hanŭnim, Hanullim, and Hanŏllim: The Construction of Terminology for Korean Monotheism.” Review of Korean Studies 5(1): 105–131.
Ch’a Oksung.
2003 Chŭngsan’gyo. W ŏnbulgyo: Han’gugin ŭi chonggyo kyŏnghŏm [Chŭngsan’gyo and W ŏnbulgyo: the religious experiences of Koreans]. Seoul: Seokwangsa.
Chong, Key Ray.
1997 Won Buddhism: A History and Theology of Korea’s New Religion. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press.
Committee for the Authorized Translation of Won-Buddhist Scriptures.
2006 The Scriptures of Won-Buddhism. Iksan, Korea: Wonkwang Publishing.
Chung, Bong-kil.
1984 “What is Won Buddhism?” Korea Journal 24(5): 18–31.
1987 “The Concept of Dharmakaya in Won Buddhism: Metaphysical and Religious Dimensions.” Korea Journal 27(1): 4–15.
1988 “Won Buddhism: A Synthesis of The Moral Systems of Confucianism And Buddhism.” Journal of Chinese Philosophy 15(4): 425–448.
2003a The Scriptures of Won Buddhism: A Translation of the W ŏnbulgyo Kyojŏn with Introduction. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
2003b “Won Buddhism: the historical context of Sot’aesan’s reformation of Buddhism for the modern world.” In Buddhism in the Modern World, edited by Steven Heine and Charles S. Prebish, 143–167. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2012 The Dharma Master Chongsan of Won Buddhism: Analects and Writings. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Dahn World.
http://www.dahnyoga.com. Accessed 9/6/2012.
Department of International Affairs of Won Buddhism, ed.
2003 Hymns of Won Buddhism. Iksan, Korea: WonKwang Publishing Company.
2010 History of Won Buddhism. Published online. Available at http://www.wonbuddhism.org/resources. Accessed 15/01/2012.
Ha Sangŭi.
2011 “Mirae chonggyorosŏ wōnbulgyoŭi [The significance of Won Buddhism as a religion for the future,” Wŏnbulgyo sinmun Sept. 30, 2011. http://www.wonnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=102006. Accessed June 4, 2012.
Han’guk Chonggyo sahoe yŏn’guso, ed.
1993 Han’guk chonggyo yŏn’gam [A yearbook of religion in Korea]. Seoul: Korea Halimwon.
Heine, Steven and Charles S. Prebish, ed.
2003 Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Jogye order.
http://www.koreanbuddhism.net. Accessed March 6, 2012.
Joongang Daily.
1997 “Three Smiles—lessons in faith and true spiritual understanding.” November 16, 1997. Accessed January 14, 2011 at http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=2949094.
Kim, Bokin.
2000 Concerns and Issues in Won Buddhism Philadelphia, PA: Won Publications, 2000.
Kim Dogong.
2010 “The Relation between Buddhism and Won Buddhism.” Journal of the Korean Academy of New Religions, Special Edition, August 2010: 166–198.
Kim Kwangsik.
2000 Uriga sara-on han’guk pulgyo paengnyŏn [A hundred years of Korean Buddhism we have lived through]. Seoul: Minjoksa.
Maum Meditation.
http://maum.org/eng/. Accessed September 6, 2012.
McCormick, Ryuei Michael.
1997 “The Four Graces According to Sot’aesan and Nichren.” Won Buddhist Studies, vol. 2 (1997). Available at http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/4Graces.html. Accessed June 14, 2011.
Park, Jin.
2004 Review of Bongkil Chung, The Scriptures of Won Buddhism: A Translation of the WOnbulgyo kyojOn with Introduction. H-Buddhism, H-Net Reviews. January, 2004. http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=8735. Accessed November 6, 2012.
Park Kwangsoo.
2003 “Sot’aesan’s Essays on the Reformation of Korean Buddhism.” International Journal of Buddhist Thought and Culture 3: 169–194.
Pulgyo chongbo set’ŏ, ed [Buddhist information Center].
“Wŏnbulgyonŭn Pulgyo in’ga? Minjok chonggyo in’ga?” [Is Won Buddhism Buddhism or an indigenous religion?]. Accessed at http://www.budgate.net/Scripts/poll/poll.asp?prot=article&id=8 on 3/6, 2012
Pye, Michael.
2002 “Won Buddhism as a Korean New Religion.” Numen 49(2): 113–141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156852702760186745
Sørensen, Henrik H.
1999 “Buddhism and Secular Power in Twentieth-Century Korea.” In Buddhism and Politics in Twentieth-century Asia, edited by Ian Harris, 127–152. London: Continuum.
T’onggyero sesang pogi [Looking at the world through statistics].
On RainbowsBlog, http://instatistics.officetutor.org/380. Accessed March 6, 2012.
Taesan.
2005 “The Necessity of the Establishment of the United Religions.” Living Buddha: The Won-Buddhist Review 1(1): 18–21.
United Religions Initiative.
http://www.uri.org/. Accessed September 6, 2011.
Won Buddhism (English-language web pages).
a http://www.wonbuddhism.org/resources. Accessed November 6, 2012.
b http://www.wonbuddhism.info/info/page/3.html. This page is now off-line. Last accessed June 6, 2011.
c. http://phila.wonbuddhism.info/eng2/won/won1.html. Accessed April 6, 2012.
WonKwang University.
http://www.wku.ac.kr/english. Accessed November 6, 2012.
Yang Eun-yong.
2008 “The History, Basic Beliefs, Rituals, and Structure of Won-Buddhism.” In Encounters: The New Religions of Korea and Christianity, edited by Kim Sunghae and James Heisig, 73–93. Seoul: Royal Asiatic Society.
Yoon Yee-heum, Kim Sang-yil, Yook Suk-san, and Park Kwang-soo, ed.
2005 Korean Native Religions. Seoul: Association of Korean New Religions.