신라 말기 최치원(崔致遠)의 승전(僧傳) 찬술

A Study on Choe, Chi-won"s Writing of Sung Chon(僧傳) in late period of Silla

  In the turbulent situation of the late period Silla, Choe, Chi-won wrote Monk Fa-zang"s biography(法藏和 尙傳) and four other series of the biography of monk (僧傳)(hereafter "sung chon"). As it was written while he was leading a secluded life in Hae-in Temple(海印 寺), attentions are focused on the purpose.   In Monk Fa-zang"s biography, Choe, Chi-won described those days as turbulent days and considered the reality as a dream. However, when it is considered from the case of Ko-jong(高宗) of Sang(商) Dynasty met Pu-yol(傅說) in dream and led the prosperity of the country, the dream did not come to nothing but became a turning point of a new era. Not only a new persona but also new political idea would be required in a new era. The reason he wrote Sung Chon even after being retired from the political field was to respond to the demand of the period. The ideal political system he suggested in Sung Chon was one which is managed by the control of the prime minister rather than that of the monarchy.   Choe, Chi-won wrote biographies of Avatasmsasaka Schools including Monk Ui-sang"s biography(義湘傳) because the principle of unification of Avatasmsasaka thought(華嚴思想), which was based on One Vehicle(一 乘), corresponded with his political ideology of centralism. It is also assumed from the fact that it explains the history of Koguryo and Kaya that he wrote Monk Podok"s biography(普德傳) and Monk yi-jung"s biography(釋利貞傳) and Monk Sun-ung"s biography(釋順 應傳) in order to investigate the cause of national ruin.