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Vol.43 No.4 Winter 2003


  

Ideology and Religion in Ancient Korea

(Vol.43 No.4 Winter 2003  pp.10~29)

Na Hee La     
Abstract
The ancient Korean people believed that to build an ideal society it was necessary to maintain harmony between the world of humans and that of the gods. In ancient Korea, such a worldview was transmitted through myth and reinforced through religious rituals led by shamans who communicated with gods. Shamans provided information about the divine world. Based on the information, people formed their worldview and bestowed values to it. Therefore, the shamanistic worldview and shamans played a significant role in seizing and maintaining power in ancient Korean society. Moreover, those groups wanting to seize and strengthen political power also sought to monopolize myth and rituals. Between the fourth and sixth centuries, the communal structure of ancient Korean society began to disintegrate, as social specialization developed rapidly with increased agricultural productivity. It was during this period that Buddhism was first introduced to Korea. Those who sought a new social order and who became increasingly aware of both the self and the individual turned to Buddhism for answers.

Keywords: worldview of ancient Korea, shamanism, shaman, divine kingship, myth, rite, Buddhism
About the author(s) Na Hee La (Na, Hui-ra) is Reseach Professor of Institute of Humanities Science at University of Ulsan. She received her Ph.D. in Korean History from Seoul National University in 1999. She has authored many books and articles including Silla-ui gukga jesa (The State Ritual of Silla) (2003) and "Godae hanguk-ui saengsagwan-yeonghon-gwan-eul jungsim-euro" (The Outlook on Life and Death in Ancient Korea: Focusing on a View of the Soul) (2003). E-mail: mythna@hanmail.net.
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