경기도 이천 안흥사(安興寺)와 이천향교(利川鄕校)의 역사와 인물 = The History and Leading Figures of Anhung Buddhist Temple and Ichun Hyang-gyo

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper examines the history of Anhung Buddhist Temple and Ichun Hyang-gyo, at Ichon, Gyeong-gi province and the leading figures associated with it. Anhung Buddhist Temple was located in the city of Ichon on the border of Anhung-dong and Gilsan-dong. It is assumed that the temple was established during the late Unified Silla or early Goryo dynasties, prospered for hundreds of years, and was then abandoned during the late Goryo or early Chosun dynasties. It had twin five story stupas that are assumed to have been built in the late Unified Silla or early Goryo dynasties. Because of their size, this temple is considered to be a mega-sized temple and to have been relatively important. It is also believed that it must have had high priests residing in it, who were influential in the Buddhist circle during the early Goryo dynasty.
Considering the political-cultural situation at the time, it is assumed that the southern and northern parts of Gyeong-gi province would have been closely related. It is also assumed that Dobongwon Temple (also known as Young-Gook Temple, represented by Bubansun Hyegeo) was dominant in the north, and Godalwon (also known as Godalsa Temple, represented by Chanyoo of Bonglim-Sanmum) took the lead in the south. It is also worth noting that Seosan Bowon Temple (represented by Tanmoon of the Huayan school) and Hui-yang-won in Moon-gyong (also known as Bong-am Temple, represented by Gung-Yang of Hunyang-Sanmoon) were temples that were greatly influenced by King Gwang-Jong, after the founding of Goryo by King Tae-Jo. Anhung Buddhist Temple would have had good connections with the high priests of the Huayan, Seon, and Buban Seon schools, who led the Buddhist circle of Goryo.
Some of the famous leading figures in the history of Ichon include Shinil Seo, Pil Seo, Hee Seo, Nool Seo, Won Seo, and Gong Seo. Pil Seo was a son of Shinil Seo. He lived during the Silla dynasty and was active in the era of King Gwang-Jong. He rose to the government position of Nae-Ui-Ryong and was given the posthumous name of Jungmin after being enshrined in King Gwang-Jong’s shrine as a meritorious retainer at the founding of the dynasty in 994 (the 13th year of King Sung-Jong) with Shinsung Yoo. Hee Seo was enshrined in the Seol-Bong school with Gwan-Ui Lee and An-Gook Kim in the late Chosun dynasty.
The Hyungam of the municipal government, Woo Lee, turned the site of the Anhung Buddhist Temple into a Confucian shrine and named it the Anhung school. Soon afterwards, he gathered students and started to lecture in 1389, during the era of King Chang of Goryo. In 1401 (the era of King Taejo of Chosun), Gamboo In-Dal Byun founded Ichon Hyang-Gyo at the same site, the 1st Ri of the north western region. Junee Se-Gwan Lee built Ae-Ryun-Jung and converted it into a Salon, a place where intellectuals who lived in Seoul and surrounding areas could meet and converse.
From the moment the Anhung Buddhist Temple became Ichon Hyang-Gyo, it was recognized as a sacred place for Confucians. The supporting rocks for the temple flag pole had disappeared, and the stupas were relocated to other sites; one of the five-story stupas was sent to the Gyong-Bok Palace, and the other to the garden of Okura-Shugokan in Japan. Since that time, there has been nothing to remind us that the place was previously a Buddhist sanctuary. It was only verified as a Buddhist temple site when roof tiles with the inscription of the Anhung Buddhist Temple were excavated in 1998 by the Seoul National University Museum and in 2004 by the Central Heritage Administration. I hope Anhung Temple can be restored by having everything returned to the original site.