← Explore on the interactive map

Development of Buddhism in Goryeo

Type Event Region Joseon Time 1331–1340

In the late 1330s, Buddhism remained the core of Goryeo's state ideology and social life;…

Timeline

  1. 1331–1335Monasteries around Kaesong · Korean PeninsulaGoryeo kings and great clans supported monasteries with land, slaves, and tax exemptions. Buddhist rituals pervaded royal investiture, rain prayers, and state sacrifices, and monasteries became local economic and cultural centers.
  2. 1335–1338Kaesong · Korean PeninsulaHigh-ranking monks could enter the palace and take part in state affairs; some monk and lay powerholders played key roles in the transitions between King Chungnyeol and King Chungseok. Buddhist groups and royal power formed a relationship of mutual dependence and mutual checks.
  3. 1339–1340Haeinsa · Korean PeninsulaGoryeo inherited the Vinaya tradition and the legacy of large-scale Buddhist canon printing dating from Silla (such as the Korean Tripitaka). In 1339 King Chungnyeol acceded again, Buddhism continued to enjoy royal patronage, and monastic education, chanting, and statuary art still flourished amid political turmoil.

Sources