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Offers alternative approaches to the study of colonial and postcolonial Korean Buddhism, suggesting new directions for scholarship.
New Perspectives in Modern Korean Buddhism moves beyond nationalistic, modernist, and ethnocentric historiographies of modern Korean Buddhism by carefully examining individuals' lived experiences, the institutional dimensions of Korean Buddhism, and its place in transnational conversations. Drawing upon rich archives as well as historical, anthropological, and literary approaches, the book examines four themes that have gained attention in recent years: perennial existential concerns and the persistent relevance of religious practice; the role of female Buddhists; clerical marriage and scandals; and engagement with secular society. The book reveals the limits of metanarratives, such as those of colonialism, nationalism, and modernity, in understanding the complex and contested identities of both monastics and laity, thus demanding that we diversify the methods by which we articulate the history of modern Korean Buddhism.
"Being an anthology, the book targets a broad range of scholars and students that go beyond Buddhist and Korean studies. Both historians and Asian studies scholars would find it relevant. However, the book is especially directed toward scholars and students of studies of religion. The book's accessibility and themes provide an example of how to understand the development of Buddhism through non-Eurocentric approaches, a much-needed perspective within the field." — Nova Religio
"This work lives up to its titular promise by providing nuanced insights into the intricate dimensions shaping the formation, transformation, and contemporary complexities of Korean Buddhism within the context of modernity … By centering on individual lived experiences and recognizing the transnational and institutional dimensions of modern Korean Buddhism, the text challenges simplistic interpretations that narrowly focus on the current state of Buddhism in Korea. Instead, it underscores the intricate and nuanced factors that have collectively contributed to the multifaceted tapestry of Korean Buddhist development into its present form." — Religious Studies Review
"…a welcome addition to studies on Buddhism in Korea … This is a cogent collection of essays that cover a wide range of interconnected subjects and offer some fresh perspectives on discourses on Korean Buddhism using novel research methods." — Journal of Buddhist Ethics
"Every scholar can find their niche within these chapters. Whether this book inspires a new scholar in the field or becomes a key reference for a senior scholar, it pushes Korean Buddhist studies into the future with fresh insights and groundbreaking ideas." — Seoul Journal of Korean Studies
"This book will be a great resource for students and specialists seeking to understand modern and contemporary Korean Buddhism. It covers a broader range of topics than any other monograph on the subject, and provides much more material on the role of women in the preservation of Korean Buddhism." — Richard McBride, Brigham Young University
Acknowledgments
Note on Translations and Conventions
Abbreviations
Introduction
Hwansoo Kim
Part 1: Beyond the Grand Narratives in Zen Buddhism
1. What Do Zen Masters Teach Us Today? The Case of Sŏn Master Hyeam Sŏnggwan
Jin Y. Park
2. Paek Yongsŏng and the Boundaries of Early Modern Korean Buddhism: Historiographical Issues and the Question of Scale
Mark A. Nathan
Part 2: Nuns and Laywomen in Modern Korean Buddhism
3. Lady Ch’ŏn and Modern Korean Buddhism
Hwansoo Kim
4. Experiencing a Different Buddhist Community: Nun Suok’s Travel to Japan and Her Contribution to the Korean Community of Nuns
Eun-su Cho
Part 3: Clerical Celibacy, Marriage, Scandals, and Monastic Rules
5. Rethinking Married Bhikṣu: An Examination of Bhikṣu Ordinations and Clerical Marriage in 1920s Korean Buddhism
Jeongeun Park
6. Flesh in the Closet: The "Secret Wife" in Korean Buddhism
Su Jung Kim
7. Monastic Regulations in Contemporary Korea
Uri Kaplan
Part 4: Secularity, Society, and Politics
8. Han Yongun, Fukuzawa Yukichi, and Questions of Nationalism and Colonialism
Gregory N. Evon
9. Kim Kugyŏng’s Liminal Life: Between Nationalism and Scholarship
Kim Cheonhak
10. Praying in Kangnam and Longing for the Mountains: The Dilemma of Centrality in Contemporary Korean Buddhism
Florence Galmiche
Bibliography
Contributors
Index