Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: During the Chosŏn period (1392–1910) and the colonial period (1910–1945), in Korean Buddhism, Buddhist monks’ and nuns’ monastic experiences were influenced not only by the existing social norms but also by the androcentric monastic regulations, such as the eight “heavy rules”. Despite the androcentric monastic rules and misogynist aspects of practice, Buddhist nuns invariably strived to increase their visibility in monastic communities and secure their position by adopting the existing social norms or customary law; in this way, they challenged male-centered monasticism. To examine Korean Buddhist nuns in the Chosŏn and the colonial periods, this study used secondary scholarship as well as primary sources, such as the story of Queen Chŏngsun, a colonial government document, and a related civil case, to present the various ways in which Buddhist nuns consolidated their position, including coopting the practice of property succession from a master-nun to a disciple-nun and receiving official recognition of the abbess position from the colonial government.
Source: Religions
DOI: 10.3390/rel16020214
Author: Jeongeun Park
Institution: St. Thomas More College
Language: English
Topic: Indian and Buddhist Studies
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
Award: G6122705686
OpenAlex ID: W4407333273