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

In this paper, I present Ven. Mangong's life and activity in modern Korean Buddhism. Ven. mangong was an excellent zen master in modern times. His life agreed with the period when Korean Buddhism lost the fundamental meaning and the spirit of the times of religion. This period was very difficult but he gained new courage and he took actions. First, he established the position of the Buddhist Priest and a foundation of the Buddhist Priesthood through the right way of devotion to the pursuit of Buddha's faith. Second, he reconstructed the new zen trend by improving Korean zen practicing method in depressed Korean Buddhism. Finally, he made a fresh atmosphere by developing the various Buddhist activities. He educated many Buddhist Priests and built many temples. His beliefs thoroughly succeed to the thoughts of ven. Kyungheo, who was his master. Ven. Mangong guided a society of priests that influenced the idealogical meaning of the Samādhi and Prajña Community, and published ven. Kyung-heo's writing. In this course, he reconstructed the new zen trend and popularization through the Sunhakwon, which was established as a zen Order in Korean Buddhism in November 1921.