Buddhism in Korea

Buddhism in Korea encompasses the traditions, institutions, and practices that developed on the Korean peninsula, shaped by royal patronage, local communities, and changing states.

Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms: The adoption and development of Buddhism in Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla before their unification. The religion first gained royal footholds in the peninsula’s competing early kingdoms.
Seon: The Korean tradition of Chan or Zen Buddhism, emphasizing meditation and direct realization. Seon became a major Korean Buddhist tradition, especially within monastic practice.
Wonhyo: A Silla Buddhist monk and thinker known for interpreting Buddhist teachings and promoting their accessibility. His writings and teaching helped shape early Korean Buddhist thought.
Tripitaka Koreana: A complete woodblock edition of the Buddhist canon carved in Korea during the Goryeo dynasty. Its production shows the scale of Goryeo Buddhist devotion and state resources.
Korean Confucianism: The development of Confucian thought and institutions in Korea, especially its prominence under Joseon. Joseon’s Confucian state reordered Buddhist institutions and public authority.
Buddhism in Silla: Buddhist institutions and practices under the Korean kingdom of Silla. Silla’s patronage helped establish Buddhism as a force in a unified kingdom.
Korean Pure Land Buddhism: Korean Buddhist practices centered on Amitabha Buddha and rebirth in the Pure Land. Pure Land devotion spread widely alongside Korea’s meditation traditions.
Uisang: A Silla monk who studied Huayan Buddhism in China and helped establish Hwaeom in Korea. His teaching founded a major Korean school of Buddhist philosophy.
Seokguram: An eighth-century Buddhist grotto shrine in Gyeongju, built during the Silla kingdom. The shrine embodies Silla’s sophisticated Buddhist sculpture and architectural vision.
Christianity in Korea: The history and communities of Protestant and Catholic Christianity on the Korean peninsula. Its growth provides a contrasting account of modern religious change in Korea.

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