Kyonghung's commentary on the 'Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra' and the formation of Pure Land Buddhism in Silla.

摘要

This study aims at two aspects to examine in Korean Pure Land Buddhism. One is to understand the historical development of early Korean Buddhism in the middle of the fourth century to the ninth century. The other aspect focuses on the Pure Land Buddhist doctrine of Kyonghung's MKSC, a commentary on the Larger Sukhavat i vyuha Sutra.;Kyonghung's commentary, MKSC, is one of the distinctive works in early Korean Pure Land writings which ravels a lively debate on the subject of birth in the Amit abha Buddha Land.;This thesis is divided into two sections: the historical context of Korean Buddhism and Kyonghung and the formation of the Pure Land Buddhism in Silla.;Part one is divided into two chapters. Chapter one explains the background of Buddhist penetration in early Korea. Chapter two shows the contextualization of Buddhism in the fourth to ninth centuries and its doctrinal formation and directions.;Part two begins with main issues of Pure Land Buddhism as an alternative soteriology. Chapter three gives doctrinal background and its thought prior to Kyonghung's commentary, in India and China. Chapter four presents biographical narrative of Pure Land Buddhism in Silla. This chapter gives us to see the dynamics and praxis of Pure Land devotionalism in Silla society. Chapter five presents biographical knowledge of Kyonghung and doctrinal analysis of his commentary. Kyonghung's commentary, MKSC, outlines the chief soteriological issues in Pure Land Buddhism.;Chapter six outlines Kyonghung's impacts on Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, as a reflection of the evolution of Pure Land doctrine. The conclusion discusses how Kyonghung is located in Silla Buddhist development and providing legitimacy to many of the doctrines of Pure Land Buddhism.;Finally I have added an appendix: (a) Tables and charts (which related to previous discussion), (b) Translation of initial chapter of the MKSC, and (c) Translation of devotional sources of Maitreya in the SGYS.