Feng Shui thought has innumerous influence on religion and life of Korea. The most important characteristics of Korean Feng Shui thought is that it was deeply interconnected with Buddhism at the end of Shilla and the beginning of Koryo, the time Feng ...
Feng Shui thought has innumerous influence on religion and life of Korea. The most important characteristics of Korean Feng Shui thought is that it was deeply interconnected with Buddhism at the end of Shilla and the beginning of Koryo, the time Feng Shui became distinctive in reality. Korean Feng Shui thought had been influenced by the Tien Ren He Yi(天人合一) thought of Dong Zhong Shu and the Tong Qi Gan Ying (同氣感應) thought of Quo Pu, and theoretically originated from the astronomy, Yin-Yang, Five elements, and I-Ching(易) of China.
Korean Feng Shui has covered, as a ground culture, one aspect of Korean history by involved with Docham(圖讖, literally means 'drawing prediction') thought; enlarged its boundary as an exposed belief by mixed with Buddhism and Confucianism; also actually utilized by politicians.
Through many historical resources and folk tales of Seongak National Master Doseon(道詵, 827~898) who is considered as the founder of Korean Feng Shui as the end of Shilla and the beginning of Koryo, it could be found out that his thought has influenced not only in Koryo but also in Choseon. Doseon's Feng Shui thought has coherently come along with Docham thought, and has been shown the original form of Korean folk religion.
The characteristics of resources of Doseon is (1) appeared lot later days of his death; (2) that all the resources are involved with Feng Shui and Docham simultaneously; (3) that they have strong property of folk tale. Though, these characteristics are seems to be somewhat insufficient for the academic demonstration, however, there is great merit that the point, the resources constantly alluded the Feng Shui and Docham thought, certainly supports for understanding Doseon and his Feng Shui thought.
The character of Feng Shui thought and its regional distinction of the end of Shilla is the Kyojong (theoretical sect) which had vested right of the time, did not neglect nor reject Seonjong(Zen sect), and rather absorbed the latter through reflective awareness by some of pioneers. This circumstances made Seonjong appeared, and provided justification to local nobles.
The aspect of the admission of Feng Shui thought can be largely divided into the theory of spontaneity and the theory of transmission form China. However, the most important aspect of the admission and the character of Feng Shui thought can be supposed that the original Korean Feng Shui thought which might be existed as different name and category, had genuinely emerged into the front by the cultural exchange with Tang dynasty at the age of Unified Shilla. It can be presumed that such Feng Shui thought had been meagerly transmitted by mingled with Korean traditional topographical concept, then by the occasion of Doseon's 'Bibosatap theory', literally means the theory of supplement and fulfillment of temple and pagoda, unique Korean Feng Shui Docham thought had been genuinely unfolded.
While comparing the characters between the Doseon's characters of 'prediction' and 'supplement and fulfillment' and the Yi Xing's(一行) Feng Shui thought, Doseon's resources highlighted on the aspect of theory of influence, and in religious category, the background of the reason of Doseon's acquirement of Feng Shui thought has been inferred from the connection with the law of Taekji(select as good land) of Esoteric Religion.
Through researching on the life story in folk tales regarding Doseon, those are clarified that his Feng Shui thought has the characters of the defense of fatherland and Feng Shui for suppression, and his 'Bibosatap theory' located on the summit of the combination of Feng Shui of China, atypical ground religion and topographical concept of the time.
We can found out that the transfers of capital to the south and the west in Koryo were suggested the basis from Doseon's Feng Shui Docham thought. Also, in this reason, those forces of local nobles, who succeeded on the foundation of Koryo because of the justification of Feng Shui Docham thought, and who experienced powerful influence of the thought by themselves, can not remove wariness on the movement of the transfer of capital based on the supplement and fulfillment thought. Furthermore, it became the background to make the vested force of nobles threaten sovereignty and reject the movement.
In this thesis, there are several most remarkable characteristics on research. (1) All the resources showing the limitation of large variation of times, exhibits the common material character of Docham and folk tales. (2) Doseon did not have direct connection with Yi Xing of Tang dynasty though; there is lots of possibility on the aspect of transmission. (3) Through Doseon's birth, growth process, folk tales, linage of dharma and so on, the largest frame of his Feng Shui Docham thought is the theory of influence; the thought is mixed with Buddhism and folk religion; and in the folk tales, surface culture was added. (4) Even though Doseon and Yi Xing had no direct contact, Doseon's birth place and boundary of activity were possible for cultural exchange; it is difficult to prove Hui Che's(慧徹) initiation of Feng Shui thought, because of the shortage of historical resource and the ambiguity of the basis; however Doseon had born and worked at the region where had active interchange with Tang. Considering these factors, it can be inferred that Doseon might not difficult to academic acquirement of Feng Shui thought. (5) At the time of the end of Shilla and the beginning of Koryo, before Doseon, there are Feng Shui Docham thought. It can be comprehended from the conditions of locations of Seonjong's Nine Mountains, and the designations of the villages nearby. (6) Doseon's Feng Shui Docham thought had not only influenced on the life of ordinary people, but also provided political justification to the government system of the time. Based on his Feng Shui Docham thought, for the political interests, the establishment of political power and the enhancement of sovereignty were pursued by the transfer of capital. (7) Finally, Doseon's Feng Shui Docham thought was not limited only in Koryo, but also influenced Choseon; his thought was not overwhelmed confined time, but is one of main steam which is continuously flowing through the whole Korean history.