산신 불공(佛供)의 치유에 관한 연구 : 치유사례를 포함하여

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines the therapeutic functions of prayer to the Korean Mountain Spirit (Sanshin) within the context of Buddhist counseling, using two adult healing cases as its core material. In contemporary Korea, where mountains hold long-standing symbolic significance as sites of protection, survival, and spiritual presence, the figure of the Mountain Spirit continues to function as an important indigenous resource for psychological stabilization. The study explores how Sanshin prayer is incorporated into counseling processes and how individuals experiencing anxiety, loss, and emotional distress engage with this ritual as a means of support and recovery.
The analysis begins by outlining the historical and cultural development of the Korean Mountain Spirit tradition, tracing its continuity from early mountain worship to state-protection rites, village guardian beliefs, and its eventual integration into Korean Buddhism as a guardian deity. Particular attention is given to the Mountain Spirit Shrine (Sanshin-gak), the iconography of Mountain
Spirit paintings (Sanshin-do), and the ritual elements of Sanshin bulgong, all of which construct a symbolic environment that supports emotional containment, grounding, and perceived protection.
A qualitative narrative approach was used to examine how a 59-year-old male and a 58-year-old female incorporated Mountain Spirit prayer into moments of psychological vulnerability. Data were collected through counseling sessions, ritual observations, participant interviews, and field notes. The narrative analysis focused on changes in emotional regulation, daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, and self-narrative restructuring as the individuals engaged in repeated prayer and vow-making, physical visits to temple spaces, and embodied ritual actions.
The findings suggest that prayer to the Korean Mountain Spirit contributes to healing through several interconnected processes:
sensory grounding within the ritual environment; symbolic reassurance derived from the protective imagery of the Mountain Spirit; behavioral activation through structured ritual participation; and the reconstruction of personal meaning in relation to suffering and resilience. Both cases exhibited reductions in anxiety, increased emotional clarity, improved relational engagement, and greater stability in daily routines. Alternative explanations, such as the effects of concurrent counseling, medication, or natural recovery, were considered to clarify the role of the ritual itself.
Although not intended for general statistical generalization, this study demonstrates that Mountain Spirit prayer can serve as a culturally embedded therapeutic intervention for individuals whose psychological challenges are closely tied to Korean spiritual and cultural frameworks. The findings highlight the relevance of indigenous rituals in Buddhist counseling and suggest the need for further empirical research on culturally grounded healing practices in modern therapeutic settings.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 제1장 서 론 ·········································································································· 1
• 제1절 연구의 목적 ·························································································· 1
• 제2절 연구의 범위 및 방법 ········································································· 6
• 제2장 이론적 배경 ··························································································· 10
• 제1절 산신신앙의 기원 ··············································································· 10
• 제2절 산신신앙의 종류 ··············································································· 15
• 제3절 산신신앙의 효과 ··············································································· 32
• 제4절 산림치유와 상담 ··············································································· 37
• 제3장 산신신앙과 불교 ··················································································· 43
• 제1절 불교와 산신신앙 ··············································································· 43
• 제2절 불교와 산신각 ··················································································· 49
• 제3절 호법신장으로서의 산신 ·································································· 54
• 제4장 산신신앙의 치유사례 ··········································································· 57
• 제1절 치유사례1: 58세 여성 ····································································· 57
• 1. 호소 문제와 증상 ················································································ 57
• 2. 문제 원인 파악과 상담 ······································································ 58
• 3. 상담 진행 및 치유과정 ······································································ 61
• 4. 사례분석 ································································································· 73
• 제2절 치유사례2: 59세 남성 ····································································· 76
• 1. 호소 문제와 증상 ················································································ 76
• 2. 문제 원인 파악과 상담 ······································································ 78
• 3. 상담 진행 및 치유과정 ······································································ 80
• 4. 사례분석 ································································································· 84
• 제5장 결 론 ········································································································ 86
• 참 고 문 헌 ·································································································· 89
• ABSTRACT ······································································································ 96