Buddhism in Modern Korea

This chapter examines the history of Buddhism in modern Korea, from the Japanese colonial period to the present, by using the Purification Movement as the lens through which to look at that history. This movement provides a means for understanding colonial history, the internal conflicts within the Sangha, the relationship between Buddhism and politics, and the key challenges that shaped the emergence of a form of Buddhism that is socially engaged and globally relevant. The Chogye Order emerged during the Purification Movement as a celibate order centered on Sŏn Buddhism. In the course of the protracted fight that pitted the celibate monks against the majority married faction, however, Korean Buddhists paid a high price, as they involved themselves in complicated conflicts of interests. After the frustrated democracy movements of the 1970s and 1980s gained momentum, Korean Buddhism entered a new phase of development.