Goryeo State Buddhist Policy

Timeline

1. 1131–1135Kaesong · GoryeoKing Uijong's reign continued granting estate land and exempting temples from taxes and labor; Buddhist monasteries as economic entities held large amounts of land and labor, with state Buddhist policy centered on material patronage.
2. 1135–1136Kaesong · GoryeoThe monk-official Myocheong became deeply involved in court politics and sparked a rebellion, exposing the problems of expanding clerical power and blurred church-state boundaries. After Myocheong's execution, the court grew more wary of clerical officials participating in politics.
3. 1137–1140Haeinsa Temple · Gyeongsang ProvinceAfter political stability returned, the royal family and nobility continued supporting the printing of Buddhist scriptures and dharma assemblies; Buddhism's status as state ideology and cultural vehicle was not shaken by the Myocheong incident.