Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

The drinking ethics of Buddhism, which emphasizes temperance as a proper moral practice, changed to show a tolerant and receptive attitude toward drinking in late Chosŏn Buddhism. The poetry of monks uses metaphorical expressions to describe the background in which this drinking culture was formed. In the Chosŏn era, the ethics and morality of Confucianism presented society with a way of life and values that substantially contributed to the formation of the surrounding culture, and alcohol was considered to be a very important substance in everyday life throughout society. The tolerant attitude toward and advocacy of alcohol use by Confucian society was one of the reasons why monks chose to drink alcohol. Monks, who frequently engaged in social exchanges with Confucian scholars, often reflected on the drinking ethics and culture of Confucianism in the context of their ascetic lives. Following the lead of Confucianism, they opted to engage in drinking culture, wherein alcohol served as a non-verbal means of communication that could help build relationships, including with the Confucians, as well as helping them express their thoughts and write poetry more freely. This lifestyle of drinking brought ambiguity to the identity of monks at the time. They led lives that were similar to the cloistral life pursued by Tao Yuanming, a notable drinking poet. Although drinking may have led to internal conflicts among Sŏn practitioners, they treated alcohol with an attitude of self-regulation and moderation. In late Chosŏn Buddhism, alcohol was a means of social exchange for monks, as well as a representative substance of that era of Korean Buddhism. This drinking culture of Korean Buddhism supported Korean Buddhism in the Confucian society of Chosŏn, which was socially powerful, despite being in conflict with Buddhist ethics. The specific circumstances affecting Buddhism at certain times may somewhat transform Buddhist ethics, but the fundamental spiritual thought should never be forgotten.