278 pol vanden broucke and sem vermeersch
to Paekche in 384 by Mlnanda, an Indian or Serindian monk from
the southern Chinese state of Eastern Jin (316–420).^5 Buddhism
was of cially embraced in Silla in 528 after the martyrdom of the
courtier Ich’adon , otherwise known as Pak Y ömch’ok.^6
The miracles surrounding his execution, which he had provoked by
building a temple in the face of hostility towards the new religion,
convinced everyone of the potency of Buddhism, thus paving the way
for its acceptance.
During the Three Kingdoms period the Buddhist religion spread
through the Korean peninsula and received royal patronage.^7 By the
sixth century Buddhism was introduced to Japan, at rst from Paekche,
and later also from Silla and Koguryö.^8 In the Three Kingdoms period
many Korean monks travelled to China to study Buddhism.^9 Some of
these monks also played an active role in the history of Chinese Bud-
dhism. In Koguryö, the most eminent of these peripatetic gures was
Sngnang (5th century).^10 He is said to have played an important
role in the establishment of the Sanlun school in China. Another
Koguryö monk P’ayak studied under the Tiantai master
Zhiyi (538–597).^11 The Paekche monk Hyön’gwang made
the journey to China to study Tiantai under Huisi (515–577), a
predecessor of Zhiyi.^12 The Silla monk Wön’gwang studied ten
years in the new Sui empire (589–618).^13 Chajang , a mem-
ber of the royal house of Silla, studied in Tang China.^14 While
Wön’gwang is regarded as the founder of doctrinal studies in Silla,
Chajang introduced monastic discipline and an administrative system
for the sagha. Their biographies are even included in the Xu gaoseng
(^5) See the section on the rst year of King Ch’imnyu’s reign in the Samguk sagi,
Yi P. 1996, p. 222. On the introduction of Buddhism into Paekche, see Tamuro 1985,
pp. 6–10.
(^6) See the section on the fteenth year of King Pöphng’s reign in the Samguk sagi,
Yi P. 1996, pp. 36–37. On the introduction of Buddhism in Silla, see Tamuro 1985,
pp. 10–12. 7
On Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms, see Grayson 1989, pp. 30–60; Kamata
1987, pp. 9–53; Vos 1977, pp. 133–138. 8
On the introduction of Buddhism into Japan, see Tamuro 1985, pp. 12–17.
(^9) See Grayson 1980, pp. 61–63.
(^10) See Grayson 1989, p. 33.
(^11) See Grayson 1989, p. 38.
(^12) See Grayson 1989, pp. 39–40, 80; Best 1991, pp. 178–195; Best 1982, p. 468.
(^13) See Grayson 1989, pp. 44, 48; Best 1991, pp. 195–196.
(^14) See Grayson 1989, pp. 52–54; Lee 1969, p. 9, n. 47.