혜초의 천축순례 과정과 목적

Hyecho was a esoteric Buddhist priest who studied buddhism by visiting India through China. He became internationally famous through his book, `Wangohchun-chukukjeon`. This is historically meaningful because he was born again as a Shilla monk through this book. This study focuses on the purpose and path of his pilgrimage to the Chunchukuk. First, I illustrated the background of his pilgrimage and the path of his journey from Kwangdong port to Tammaipjerkuk. Next, I indicated that his pilgrimage aimed at visiting the East-Chunchukkuk and the Middle-Chunchukuk where the 8 great Buddhist holy places were located. Accordingly, I explained the path of his pilgrimage by considering the political situation of the East- Chunchukuk and the Middle-Chunchukuk. As we know, the discarded part of Wangohchunchukukjeonis the story about the East-Chunchukuk; thus, I have explained about his pilgrimage to Mygadaya, Kusinagara, Rajagrha, and Mahabodhivihara on the basis of the existing stidues. I also examined the customs of the countries which he visited and his explanations of Anathapindikavanna in Sravasti, Ambatavana of Vaisali, Kapilavatthu, and Samdobugyetap(Sankasia), as the 4 great pagodas. Although whether the countries which Hyecho explained on the basis of the stories which he heard from the people was actually existed or not, I simply summarized his stories about the countries because I focuses only in the 8 great buddhist holy places. Hyecho would be very proud of himself because he strongly influenced in Dang`s Buddhism. However, in term of current point of view, it is very meaningful that his `Wangohchunchukjeon`explains the boundary of Shilla People`s international activities.