한국불교 총본사 건설과 李鍾郁

The reconstruction campaign of Korean buddhist main temple was derived from confirmation of intention to incorporate buddhism under the Japanese imperialism by internal implication that buddhism with higher status deserved to have an incorporation organization. For construction of Taegosa, the general main temple of Jogyejong, Bochongyo Sipiljeon was removed and reconstructed with the following background: The Japanese power thought that it was a good opportunity to eradicate the root of Bochongyo that emerged as a social movement power and Korea buddhism powers might choose to remove and reconstruct Bochongyo Sipiljeon because they thought its construction expense would be expensive. To sum up the process of its removing and reconstruction, the main temple started to be constructed from February 1937 when the main temple construction committee was organized. On March of the year, Sipiljeon was purchased from a Japanese for 12,000 won and on May 5 1937, the dismantlement was completed. On May 14 of the year, stone and wood materials removed were carried to start construction, and about 15 months later, on October 10. 1938, most of the construction was completed. On October 25 of the year, a Buddhist ritual was provided at the main hall reconstructed to finish the construction of the main hall. The expense required in the process of removing and reconstruction was about 250,000 won, the number of the workers were 65,000, and Choi Won-sik who was a builder of Gyeongbokgung supervised the reconstruction. The project would have been impossible if not permission from the government-general and the person who dealt with its authorization well was Lee Jong-wook. As the Temple Regulation including Jongmyeong and Samyeong called Joseon Buddhism Jogyejong Main Temple Taegosa was authorized on April 1941 through Lee Jong-wook, the reconstruction of the main temple which started in 1929 was concluded. Thus, Lee Jong-wook made a great contribution to modernization and systemization of Korea buddhism under the Japanese imperialism. In the liquidation period when the identity of Korea buddhism was unstable, building Taegosa, Joseon Buddhism Jogyejong Main Temple that symbolizes Korean buddhism as well as a central organization of buddhism at the center where buddhism could not exist at that time was significantly meaningful. The first meaning was that it was a single unprecedented supervising organization since Korea buddhism began as Han Young-un said. The construction of the general main temple that provided a move of Jogyejong establishment means that a modernized single Jongdan system was first established while traditional buddhism was maintained. Second, Korean buddhism prepared a foot hold for organized mass education. That is, as a Korean-style building that symbolizes Korean buddhism was established at the center of city, Korean traditional buddhism that was hidden in the mountains and forests could actively jump toward city. In addition, it was a chance to become the greatest religion of Korea after the our people won independence. Third, Korean buddhism used the reconstruction of the main temple to escape out of pre-modernity and have modernized religious order. Fourth, as the mass including main and branch temples joined the reconstruction, Korean buddhism was incorporated into one. Fifth, to find a status that fit for rapid expansion of religious power, a structure that symbolizes Korean buddhism was intended to be built at the center of city. That is, 'movement to recover buddhism status' according to rapid expansion of religious power was led to reconstruction of the main temple. Historical meaning construction of the main temple has is presented as follows: In the liquidation period under the Japanese imperialism, Korean traditional buddhism which was separated was unified and revived as a modernized religious power, which was considered to be a national achievement. For example, reconstruction of traditional religious name called Jogyejong and the main hall of the general main temple at the center of central city, Gyeongsung, was an active challenge of Korean buddhism that intended to succeed to our national tradition.