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The Lifestyle of Buddhistic Votary(Geosa, 居士) and Its Significance in the Goryeo Era

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2014, (116), pp.197-242
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Lee Byunghee 1

1한국교원대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In the Goryeo era Buddhistic votary(geosa, 居士), male devotees of Buddhism, mostly belonged to the ruling class and held government posts. They were laymen, but comparable to Buddhist monks in sincerely seeking the way to Buddhahood. In addition, quite a few among ordinary laymen who were not referred to as geosa also strongly believed in Buddhism. Geosas showed impeccable attitudes in practicing their Buddhist beliefs. They read and profoundly understood Buddhist scriptures and grasped the essence of Seon, or meditation, by practicing meditation. Some of them outperformed monks in Buddhist studies. However, few geosas carried out these Buddhist activities in a group, suggesting that their Buddhist beliefs were practiced on the individual level. Geosas did not seek luxury in terms of clothing, food and shelter and led a very humble life. They largely wore hemp clothes and straw shoes, ate coarse food including vegetables instead of meat, and lived in shelters that barely protected them from the rain and cold. Some of them lived a more than humble life than Buddhist monks. Geosas neglected the production of crops, showing little interest in increasing their wealth. They neither imposed high rents nor actively involved in loan sharking or commerce. In addition, they avoided acquiring wealth through corruption or illegal activities. Geosas were actively involved in charity work to express the mercy of Buddhism. They learned medicine to prescribe drugs for sick people and willingly shared their crops with those suffering from hunger. They also offered their kindness to travelers. Given all this, it can be said that they contributed a lot to the prevalence of charity culture in Goryeo society. It is thought that geosas played a big role in spreading a life style based on Buddhist doctrines in Goryeo society. Their life style was highly respected and was considered close to the ideal life pursued by people in those days. Although Buddhism dominated society, geosas’ lifestyle and living attitudes were not common for people in those days. Such lifestyle and living attitudes were observed among only a small number of people. Nevertheless, geosas’ living attitudes helped to purify society and to alleviate tensions in society. Thanks to geosas, Buddhism could maintain a solid foundation in Goryeo society. However, as Neo-Confucianism was accepted and prevalent in the late Goryeo era, it became difficult to find geosas who actively practiced Buddhist value.

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