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

This study focuses on examining the change that is shown in Seungjeon(僧傳) of the late Joseon period. Seungjeon first revealed a distinct difference from a Confucian scholar’ s biography in form and content. Even in a Buddhist monk’s biography written by a Confucianist, Seungjeon didn’t escape from the character in a normative discourse. However, its traditional meaning cannot be found in the works of Confucian scholars who had been active in the 18th century such as Shin Su–wang’s Geomseungjeon(劍僧傳), Hoseongjeon(虎僧傳), Jeong Beom–o’s Ihwaamnoseungjeon(梨花庵老僧傳), and Lee Ok’s Bumokhanjeon(浮穆漢傳). Seungjeon decribed by Confucian scholars of the 18th century had a Buddhist monk as a hero, but it concentrated its interest in how well a Confucian scholar’s teaching is being implemented. When it comes to Seungjeon, it may be naturally suitable only when focusing on life after becoming a Buddhist monk. However, these Seungjeons find out an anecdote in the mundane world and respect for a teacher as a hero’s achievements of lifetime before being a Buddhist priest. In other words, the aim of the writings was to be a model for a Confucians. In the Joseon dynasty, Buddhist monks were treated as humble, and thereby a Buddhist monk’s life was prohibited to be made as a biography. So, Seungjeon cannot help being considered as Confucian scholars’ unfair criticism.