한국 재래종교(在來宗敎)의 ‘구원’관

The View of ‘Salvation’ in Korean Traditional Religions

This paper examines the meaning of salvation in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, which are the traditional religions of Korea. The scope of the study covers religions that were present in Korea before Christianity was introduced into the country. Under the traditional religious category, a semantic system similar to ‘salvation’ in Christianity, which is present in the respective religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, is discussed from a religious viewpoint. The religious landscape in Korea does not indiscriminately accept foreign religions. Emphasis is placed on selection based on religious traits such as Fung-Ryu( 風流性 ) or Muism( 巫敎性 ) in Korea. Fung-Ryu( 風流性 ) acts as a positive mechanism to create a creative religious culture, whereas Muism( 巫敎性 ) acts as a passive and negative mechanism. Fung-Ryu( 風流 性 ) or Muism( 巫敎性 ) form the essence and core of religion in Korea and function as a frame of reference for the acceptance and interpretation of foreign religions.This clearly concludes that traditional religions like Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have religious systems similar to Christianity. Though not equivalent to the salvation in Christianity, traditional religions have been categorized as having a corresponding salvation system in the study. Firstly, Confucianism consists of world views that are realityoriented. Through Confucian rituals such as the “Four Ceremonies” of Capping, Wedding, Funeral and Ancestral Rites, confucianism followers inherit and propagate a community of filial piety in the form of clans, seeking salvation within an everlasting community of remembrance. Secondly, Mass Buddhism pursues the salvation views of ‘Here and Now’ that create a world of Nirvana in coexistence with all living creatures by Bodhisattva Conduct and breaking away from Pratītyasamutpāda and retributive justice. Thirdly, although the development of Taoism into a religious body is limited by the nature of the religious climate in Korea, focus has been placed on Taoism as a religious system that seeks immortal salvation through the creation of a universal body in combination with the way of eternal life. Thus, it can be deduced that the ultimate human character pursued in traditional religions, though non-interfering with the views of certain religions, is made up of religious views that realize permanent existence through the religions own belief and ritual systems. This shows that Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are formed as one whole religious system under each respective religious and cultural contextual system, and that permanent salvation is a phenomenon that works within the meaning and ritual system framework of each religion.