The Buddhist Scripts of Korea Flowed into Japan

일본에 유전된 한국판 석가유전적

There are no exact copies or carvings of India's original Buddhist Scripts published in Korea that had been flowed into Japan except those of WanSanJungUiMongSanPuPo(환산정의몽산법어). YaWoonJaKyung (야운자경). KyeChoShimHakInMoon(계초심학인문) PalSimSooHangChang(발심수행장) and MongsanWhaSangPupoRackLock published by a mid-Chosun Dynasty Buddhist monk, YaWoon TaesunSa. Others are the translations by Chinese people. All printings were of woodblock except ChonjimyungYangsoo- RhockChapMoon(천지명양수육잡문) of Inkyng wood printing type. This shows perhaps that the Buddhists were so devout that they spared no effort in their prayers to head for the Paradise. Even the woodblock carver himself took his hard work for granted in his belief and engraved the blocks with all his heart taking his work as God-given task. Or. perhaps they to use wood-block printing as the demand for the Scripts soared. By the way. as the Koryo Dynasty took Buddhism as the state religion, it was natural that the Buddhist Scripts were published at TaeJangToKam (the publishing office) and were much encouraged. It is noteworthy. however, that not a few Buddhist Scripts had been published during the Chosun Dynasty despite its crack-down on Buddhism as the Confucianism was declared as the state principle. The Scripts were even published by such temples as MoonJooSa(문수사), MyoHeeAm(묘희암). SsangbongSa(쌍봉사). PyoHoonSa(표훈사), YooJupSa(유점사), YongJangSa(용장사). and AnShimSa(안심사). The fact that the Scripts were even published by KanKyungToKam(간경부감) leads us to reconsider the traditional way of thinking of the Chosun Dynasty as anti-Buddhist or flunkeyist. The historical fact that a record number of Buddhist publications had been transmitted to Japan - is it accidental? - This issue could well be another subject matter for further research. However, it should be noted that very few of above­mentioned Buddhist Scripts are found in present-day Korea.