불교신격과 재래신격의 만남 -『三國遺事』를 출발점으로 삼은 試論-

Abstract

본고는 『삼국유사』소재 설화작품을 분석하여 불교신격과 재래신격이 만나서 새로운 관계를 형성하는 양상을 검토하는 것을 목표로 한다. 『삼국유사』를 검토한 결과 다섯 가지 유형을 추출할 수 있었다. 필자는 다섯 가지 유형을 각각 (1)退治, (2)授戒, (3)護法助力, (4)救濟希求, (5)神天同體라고 명명하고 유형별 특징을 살폈다. 다섯 가지 유형 가운데 특히 (2)～(5) 유형은 재래신격이 불교의 ‘수직적’ 체계 속에 배치되는 방식임을 확인했다. 주목되는 사실은 불교 중심의 수직구조에 편입되게 된 결과 한국에서 불교와 접한 고대신격은 신격의 위계ㆍ체계ㆍ다양성을 보존하기 힘들게 되었다는 점이다. 애초부터 위계가 불분명하고 체계가 느슨했다고 하더라도 그것이 분명해지고 강화되는 방향이 아닌 그 반대 방향으로 운동했던 것이다. 고대신앙은 불교의 체계 속에 온전히 포섭됨으로써 자신의 자립성을 뒷받침할 만한 관계 유형을 제시하지 못했다고 생각한다. 수직구조에 편입되는 길을 택하게 된 이유를 다각도로 추정할 수 있겠지만 한 가지 분명한 사실은 최고 신격을 정점에 두고자 하는 수용집단(=민족)의 종교심리가 작용했다는 점이다. 그래서 일단 정립된 수직구조(=불교 중심의 피라미드형구조)는 신유학 수용 과정이나 기독교 수용 과정에서도 저층에서 일종의 종교적 원형구조로 작용하면서 수용 양상을 좌우했을 것으로 생각된다. 본고에서 논의한 다섯 가지 기본 유형을 발판으로 삼아 동아시아로 고찰의 범위를 넓힐 수 있다. 중국의 老子化胡, 일본의 本地垂迹을 합하면 유형이 일곱 가지가 된다. 중국이나 일본은 재래신격의 체계가 불교의 장대한 체계와 ‘병렬적’으로 공존을 꾀하는 방식을 개발했고, 불교와 ‘병렬’됨으로써 고대신앙의 느슨한 多神 체계가 보존되고 확장될 수 있었다고 생각된다. 또한 이러한 차이가 다양한 문화적 차이를 낳은 원천이 되었을 것이다. 장차 비교논의를 통해서 이러한 점을 해명해 보고자 한다.

This thesis puts the purpose in investigating the formation phase of new relationships of Buddhism Divinity(佛敎神格) and traditional Divinity(在來神格) by analyzing narratives of Samgukyusa. Samgukyusa was investigated to examine 5 basic types in the stories of this history book. This thesis classified the names of 5 basic types and explored these characteristics 1) Subjugation (Buddhism Divinity exterminates traditional Divinity) 2) The ceremony of receiving the precepts (Buddhism Divinity gives the precepts). 3) The defense of a Buddha-dharma (Traditional divinity is transformed into the deity for the protection of Dharma). 4) Seeking for salvation (Traditional divinity takes a vow of the salvation of Buddha and Bodhisattva). 5) One body of God and Heaven (Traditional divinity is the Buddhism divinity, which existed in the previous lives of reincarnation). It was confirmed that (2)～(5) types among 5 types are the methods to allocate the traditional divinity into the vertical system of Buddhism. Noticeable fact is that it became difficult for ancient religion, which was encountered with Buddhism in Korea after choosing vertical structure, to preserve unique system as well as polytheism which is indistinct in hierarchy. It is presumed that ancient religion was completely included to the system of Buddhism and could not present relationship type that backs up its independence. The reasons for choosing vertical structure can be inferred from various angles. Especially, religious sentiments of accommodation groups (=race), which were intended to put the highest divinity in the top, played a significant role. Accordingly, it is estimated that established vertical structure (=Pyramid type-structure) might have influenced besides the acceptance process in the Neo Confucianism and the modern Christianity. Five basic types that have been discussed in this thesis will be a stepping stone to expand the scope of investigation into East Asia. It is judged that traditional divinity in China and Japan has developed the method for 'parallel' coexistence with the grand scheme of Buddhism, and preserved polytheism of the ancient religion through being paralleled with Buddhism. In addition, it is conjectured that this difference would be the source of various differences in culture. It will be clarified more specifically through the comparative discussion in the future.

This thesis puts the purpose in investigating the formation phase of new relationships of Buddhism Divinity(佛敎神格) and traditional Divinity(在來神格) by analyzing narratives of Samgukyusa. Samgukyusa was investigated to examine 5 basic types in the stories of this history book. This thesis classified the names of 5 basic types and explored these characteristics 1) Subjugation (Buddhism Divinity exterminates traditional Divinity) 2) The ceremony of receiving the precepts (Buddhism Divinity gives the precepts). 3) The defense of a Buddha-dharma (Traditional divinity is transformed into the deity for the protection of Dharma). 4) Seeking for salvation (Traditional divinity takes a vow of the salvation of Buddha and Bodhisattva). 5) One body of God and Heaven (Traditional divinity is the Buddhism divinity, which existed in the previous lives of reincarnation). It was confirmed that (2)～(5) types among 5 types are the methods to allocate the traditional divinity into the vertical system of Buddhism. Noticeable fact is that it became difficult for ancient religion, which was encountered with Buddhism in Korea after choosing vertical structure, to preserve unique system as well as polytheism which is indistinct in hierarchy. It is presumed that ancient religion was completely included to the system of Buddhism and could not present relationship type that backs up its independence. The reasons for choosing vertical structure can be inferred from various angles. Especially, religious sentiments of accommodation groups (=race), which were intended to put the highest divinity in the top, played a significant role. Accordingly, it is estimated that established vertical structure (=Pyramid type-structure) might have influenced besides the acceptance process in the Neo Confucianism and the modern Christianity. Five basic types that have been discussed in this thesis will be a stepping stone to expand the scope of investigation into East Asia. It is judged that traditional divinity in China and Japan has developed the method for 'parallel' coexistence with the grand scheme of Buddhism, and preserved polytheism of the ancient religion through being paralleled with Buddhism. In addition, it is conjectured that this difference would be the source of various differences in culture. It will be clarified more specifically through the comparative discussion in the future.