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

Sam-guk-yu-sa (三國遺事) is an excellent text which shows the cultural thoughts of late 13th century Goryeo. In the politically confused period, it focused on the subject of historical extraordinary and protect of Buddhist belief to understand korean culture independently. We can research plentiful materials of Buddhist history in Sam-guk-yu-sa. In Sam-guk-yu-sa, most important parts and subjects are the chapter of Tap-sang (塔像) and that of Eui-hae (義解). The chapter of Tap-sang contains the story about making Buddhist relics like pagodas etc. and relative stories about miracles and beliefs. The chapter of Eui-hae contains the constructions and spreads of Buddhist thoughts. So the chapter of Eui-hae is similar to the biography of the monks. In other chapters like Sin-ju (神呪) and Gam-tong (感通), we can find the matters of Buddhist thoughts also. But the accurate matters of Silla Buddhist thought, most of them are included in the chapter of Eui-hae. The chapter of Eui-hae is consisted of Vijnanavada (唯識), Madhyamika (空) and Vinaya in Three Kingdom's period, and of Wonhyo (元曉), Vijnanavada and Hwaeom(華嚴) in unified Silla period. In comtemporary research, the history of Silla Buddhist thoughts is cope with the contents of the chapter of Eui-hae. So the chapter of Eui-hae shows us the major parts of Silla Buddhist thoughts in accordance with the periodical change. In addition, some men of major thoughs like Woncheuk, and major part like Seon (禪) were omitted. To investigate that reason is a future problem.