眞覺國師 千熙의 佛敎史的 位相 (The Historical Status of Cheonhee the Master of True Enlightenment)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국문화사학회
· 수록지 정보 : 문화사학 / 39호 / 57 ~ 66페이지
· 저자명 : 김상현

초록

眞覺國師 千熙(1307-1376)는 화엄종 승려로 고려 공민왕 때 국사를 지낸 고승이다. 고려시대의 화엄종은 대표적인 4대 종파에 속했지만, 고려 후기에는 그 종세가 타 종파에 비해 약한 편이었다. 이러한 상황에서도 화엄종의 천희가 국사에 책봉된 것은 주목할 만한 일이다. 따라서 본고에서는 천희의 禪敎兼修, 조계종 懶翁과의 갈등, 그리고 부석사의 중수 등을 살펴서 천희의 불교사적 위상을 고찰하고자 했다.
화엄종 승려 천희는 원나라의 유학을 통해 선법을 익히기도 함으로서 禪敎을 겸수했다. 공민왕 16년(에 국사에 책봉된 그는 고려후기 국사에 책봉된 유일한 화엄종 승려였다. 아마 화엄종 출신 신돈의 추천이나 도움이 없지 않았겠지만, 그의 선교겸수 또한 그가 국사에 책봉되는 한 배경이었을 것이다. 그러나 조계종이 우위를 차지하고 있던 당시에 화엄종 출신의 국사 천희의 활동은 자유롭지 못했다. 특히 공민왕 19년에 실시된 功夫選을 계기로 촉발된 나옹과의 갈등으로 천희는 개경을 떠나게 되었다. 천희는 부석사에 주석하게 된 공민왕 21년부터 몇 년 동안 부석사 중수 불사에 힘을 쏟아 복구를 완성했다. 화엄종 발전의 토대를 마련하고자 했던 천희의 희망이 부석사 중수 불사로 표출된 것이었다.

영어초록

Cheonhee the Master of True Enlightenment(眞覺國師 天凞 1307-1376) was a priest from the Avatamska sect who had served as the master of King Gongmin of Goryeo.
Even though the sect of Avatamska had always been one of the four major sects in the Goryeo period, its influence in the late Goryeo period was relatively weak. Thus, the difficult situation makes the fact that Cheonhee was appointed as the King’s master in such a circumstance more noteworthy. Concerning that, this study aims to elucidate his historical status by reviewing his life, thoughts and the periodical issues of his time.
By studying Zen Buddhism in the Yuan Empire, Cheonhee blended Zen study into doctrinal Buddhism. He was appointed as the master of King Gongmin in the 16th year of the King’s reign and it was the only case in which a priest from the Avatamska sect acquired such a title in the entire late Goryeo period. Even though it is possible to assume that he had received political supports from Sindon, who was also from the Avatamska sect, but his harmonious study of Zen and doctrinal Buddhism could also be regarded as the significant reason for his appointment. But the strong influence of the Jogye sect at the time limited Cheonhee’s sphere of activities as the master of the king.
And, especially, due to the conflict between him and Naong (懶翁) which was initiated by the Buddhist examination in the 19th year of King Gongmin’s reig, Cheonhee had to leave Gagyeong, the capital city of Goryeo. Ever since he decided to reside in the Buseok Temple in the 21st year of King Gongmin’s reign, he did not spared any of his efforts to restore the Temple and finally completed the mission. His hope to establish a firm fundament for the development of the Avatamska sect was expressed in his devotion for the restoration of the Buseok Temple.

참고자료

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