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

The biggest obstacle to restoration of ancient literary history is an absolute insufficiency of material evidences about the dates of past history. Incidentally, even though such a limitation may be overcome reasonably with epigraphic sources, there have still been very few examples of the use of epigraphic evidences for archeological studies on narrative literature. In view of that issue, this study adopted for further discussion a selection of 46 epigraphs (authored by Buddhist monks) with certain narrative nature among all Buddhist epigraphic artifacts in South Korea. In order to make clear the points at issue for discussion, this study adopted a methodology of analysis based on key motives. Based on 5 key motives that often appear in the epigraphs of Buddhist monks─e.g. ① Dream of conception, ② Evolution, ③ Healing of princess, ④ Escort by tiger, ⑤Expulsion of dragon and establishment of Buddhist temples─, this study sought to further analyze the historical origin, generative aspects and potential effects of those epigraphs on other narrative literatures. Here, ① and ④ were considered as adapted versions of mythical stories, whereas ②, ③ and ⑤ were considered as newly created motives within a framework corresponding to the lifetime of Buddhist monks. The reason these motives often appear in the epigraphic works of Buddhist monks is that they are recognized to satisfy sanctity and typicality as Buddhist person by high priests in Buddhism. ② and ③ prepare the statue of salvation, and ①, ④ and ⑤ contribute to the authority and Dharmic power of Buddhist high priests. That is why these motives could possibly keep their haecceity even to this generation from the medieval period. Buddhist monk stories from medieval epigraphic sources worked as references for organizing and formulating life stories of Buddhist monks in future generations, and also had certain effects on creating stories of oral tradition about other historic figures beyond Buddhist narrative literature. Life stories of Buddhist monks from medieval Buddhist epigraphic sources cannot be simply considered as a historical source of Buddhism. These life stories can be helpful to read whole contexts of how medieval narrative stories developed beyond the age of myth, and have a special implication of complete history to help us understand narrative characteristics of modern monk stories based on oral tradition after medieval period.