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

The Manjusri Belief and the Mount Wutai Manjusri Belief belong to different forms of religious belief systems. The former is categorized into the Bodhisattva school of Mahayana Buddhism and the latter has been established in accordance with the Avatamsaka Sutra. The development of the Mount Wutai Manjusri Belief in China can be divided into two stages. First, the era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and of the Southern and Northern Dynasties (418-581), which can be referred to as the “Emerging Period of the Manjusri Belief”. Second, the establishment period of the Mount Wutai Manjusri Belief from the Sui Dynasty to Tang Dynasty (581-798). The time when the Mount Odae Manjusri Belief in Silla was established cannot be earlier than the middle of the 8th century. As Fazang accounted in the fifteenth volume of his Exploratory Notes to the Mystery of Avatamsaka Stutra, the Qingliang Mountain was also referred to Wutai Moutain of the Daizhou. Around 692, Fazang requestedSeungjeon(勝詮), who was about to return to Silla, to deliver this work, as well as other letters, to Uisang for review. Later, as the King Seongdeok(聖德王) succeeded to the throne, much attention was attached to Odae Mountain areas due to the military and political importance. From the early to mid-8th century, Silla was not only internally disturbed, but unstable due to external threats. Considering the situation in Silla at that time, the circumstances become clear under which Silla accepted the Mount Odae Manjusri Belief. It is understandable that King Seongdeok organized the Mount Odae Manjusri Belief by mobilizing Buddhist forces in the Myeongju(溟州) area that helped strengthen his kingship.