This dissertation considers the change of the ritual of Beopseok in the Joseon Dynasty, a ritual for reciting the sutra. Before stuying its main topic, I looked at Beopseok in Indian Buddhism, which can be said to be the origin of its ritual, the esta...
This dissertation considers the change of the ritual of Beopseok in the Joseon Dynasty, a ritual for reciting the sutra. Before stuying its main topic, I looked at Beopseok in Indian Buddhism, which can be said to be the origin of its ritual, the establishment of the ceremonial ritual of Beopseok in Chinese Buddhism and that in Korean Buddhism.
It was performed more than 70times, starting with Beopseok composed of the four great material elements from the reign of King Taejo to that of King Jungjong in the Joseon Dynasty, It was divided into three periods according to differences in its related data. The early period is from at the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha(作法節次, the procedure for the rules of practice, 1496) in the late 15th century to before Ojongbeomeomjip(五種梵音集, the collecotion of the five kinds of the Brahma voice, 1661), the middle one is to before Jagbeobgwigam(作法龜鑑, the example for the rules of practice, 1826) and the late one is to the pre-modern era.
The aspect of the ritual of Beopseok can be divided into ‘Gyegyecheong beopsik(啓請法式, the ceremony of invitation and worship, I-type)’ at the beginning of reciting the sutra and ‘the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha(P-type)’ in Uigwe(the ritual manuals) of Jakbeob jeolcha. Also, the aspect is divided into the first half(IV) of the fixed territory, solemn purity and advocacy, and the second half(V) of the performing ceremony of the beopseok and its closing ceremony, which characteristics were examined.
Firstly, it is the fixed territory. In the early period, it is difficult to find the same aspect as the fixed territory in Gyegyecheong beopsik but there is mantra enshrined in the land(安土地眞言), which can be said to have the built altar and the fixed territory. Jibanmun(志磐文, the ritual program by Giban) of Suryukjae(水陸齋, the offering ritual for land and water) has its form and its mode in the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha. No special aspect can be found in the middle period nor any specific ceremony for the fixed territory is found in the late one.
Secondly, it is solemn purity. In the early period, mantra for purifying the karma of the mouth or speech plays its role in Gyegyecheong beopsik and it is performed by reciting Maha karuna dharani in the ritual of Jakbeob jeolcha. In its middle period, Gyegyecheong beopsik is characterized by the sound of Om at the beginning of mantra for purifying the karma of the mouth or speech in Yukgyeonghapbu(1721) kept in Unheungsa temple and the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha is found in the form of chant with the prone position among the solemn and pure ceremonial practices of Ojongbeomeomjip(1661). The late beopsik has only mantra for purifying the karma of the mouth or speech and its rite of Jakbeob jeolcha centers on the offering ceremony rather than the ritual of Beopseok.
Thirdly, it is the advocacy ceremony. In the early period, the 8 Geumgangs and 4 Bodhisattvas are invited and asked for their defense during Gyegyecheong beopsik, and pantheons(神衆) are invited and given the role of protecting the fixed territory(護持結界) and guarding bodhi-mandala(守衛道場) during the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha, In the middle period, the rituals such as Sinjungjakbeop(神衆作法, the rule of conduct for the ritual for pantheon) were not found. In the later period, the aspect of defending Beopseok was weakened and it was established as the independent ritual of serving the offerings and guarding bodhi-mandala.
Fourthly, it is the ceremony of carrying the main lecturer. It can be said that in the early period, mantras enshrined in the land means this ceremony in Gyegyecheong beopsik, and the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha is performed under the name of Geobul(擧佛, bowing and calling the name of the Buddha in front of the Buddha statues). In the middle Gyegyecheong Beopsik does not have any singularity, and the procedure of carrying the main lecturer appears in its rite of Jakbeob jeolcha. Beomeumsanbbojip(the collection of Brahma voice) has the version of the 17th and that of the 18th century. In the late period, the rite of carrying Gwaebul(掛佛, Buddhist scroll painting) was not conducted. Instead, It is established that the rite of reciting the ritual oration(儀文) in front of Gwaebul after istalling it.
Fifthly, it is the rite of reciting the sutra. In the early period, vow, Unhabeom(云何梵) and then Gaegyeongge(Opening chant of the sutra) are conducted in turn during Gyegyecheong beopsik. Geobul, Yeomhyang(拈香, Burning the incense in the incense burner), Gaegyeongge, and mantra are programed in turn and then the master of ceremony explains the title of the sutra followed by reciting it all together during the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha. Gyegyecheong beopsik in the middle period is characterized by the appearance of 'Moongyeon(聞見)' in the 3rd verse of Yukgyeonghapbu kept in Unheungsa temple as 'Gyeonmoon(見聞)'. Between Gaegyeongge and Geobul, asking for Buddha is conducted first. Those in the late period are related to the modern ones. 'Jakbeopguigam'(1826), the material of the rite of Jakbeob jeolcha, contained the Jeongdaege(頂戴偈, Chant for putting Kasaya on the head), Gaegyeongge and Gaebeopjangjineon(開法藏眞言, Opening mantra of dharma-storehouse), Chant of asking for Dharma, and Chant for the Dharma talk in the ceremony of the offering ritual oration in the previous period. But we cannot even find a trace of them.
Sixthly, the closing ceremony of Beopseok has three types of Vow in mantras, which as in <Table 11> of the main text. There is no need to discuss the form of Gyegyecheong beopsik. There is no separate mantra found in the two types of Uigwe, that is, Jakbeob jeolcha(1496) and the ritual oration for offerings in Jebanmun(諸般文, Outline of Buddhist Rituals, 1634). But its primitive form of the middle period is found in Yeongsandaehoe Jagbeob Jeolcha(the procedure for the rules of practice in the Vulture Peak assembly). Regarding the form of mantras and vow at the end of Beopseok in the middle period, the supplementary mantras began to appear before Sugyeongge(收經偈, Chant for praising the teachings when gathering the scriptures). In the late period, mantras and vow at the end of reciting the sutra or sermon follow Sugyeongge without reciting the sutra comopsed of the supplementary mantras.
Seventhly, as for the blessing in the closing ceremony of Beopseok, in the early period, Gyegyecheong beopsik contains the meaning of a blessing in ‘prajñā inexhaustible treasures mantra’ or ‘the diamond heart dharani’. The later supplementary mantras means not only replenishing Yeomsong(拈頌, the Evaluation and Odes) but also replenishing a blessing. After the closing recitation of the sutra, they hold a memorial service for the merits and deeds and specifically, they give a blessing in three stages for the blissful rebirth in the Pure Land of the former kings and their queens, the doner’s deceased parents, each parents and souls in Dharma realm. In the middle period, the blessing of the deceased, three souls is found, but the blessing of the living, three figures is not. In the late period, it can be said that the blessings were developed in the form of universal blessings such as mantras and vow of the Bohoehyangjingon(普回向眞言) and individual blessings such as the forms of blessing of the dead and that of the living.