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

The Manilhoe(萬日念佛會, a ceremony which involves chanting Buddha for ten thousand days) in Keonbongsa has been referred to as a representative example of 19th century chanting Buddhism owing to the fact that the ceremony was held an impressive three times over the course of the century. The ceremony descended from the first Manilhoe held by master Baljing in the Three Kingdoms period. According to the two oldest records of the second Manilhoe- Sinchangmanilhoesajeogilgi(新創萬日會事蹟日記) of an unknown authorship and period, and male devotee Sungye(醇溪居士)’s Manirwonjungsugi(萬日院重修記) from 1822-researchers have assumed that the leader of the ceremony was Seokmin(碩旻) and that the ceremony was held in 1802. However a recently discovered record of the ceremony, Ilbonpyohaerokseomun (日本漂海錄序文) written by Jeong Yoonyong(鄭允容) in 1863, contradicts the older records. According to the newer record, the leader of the ceremony was Bokin(福仁) and it was held sometime between August and October of 1801. While the immediate purpose of the second Manilhoe has been supposed as being for the longevity of King Sunjo, researchers have not focussed very much on the Buddhist background surrounding the ceremony. This study suggests the “Three Gates” Discipline(三門修學), which consisted of Gyeongjeolmun(徑截門), Wondonmun(圓頓門), and Yeombulmun (念佛門), formed the background of the second Manilhoe. It is believed that the “Three Gates” Discipline proposed by Cheongheohyujeong(淸虛休靜) and Pyeonnyang-eongi(鞭羊彦機) was popularized in the 18th century. So it is possible to deduce that the Manilhoe was held during Yeombulmun was being introduced throughout the kingdom.