Buddhist study highlights Korea's historical links to India

Diplomacy

Published: 24 Sep. 2023, 16:59 Updated: 24 Sep. 2023, 18:43

Buddhist study highlights Korea's historical links to India

Monk Domyeong, seventh from front right, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar, sixth from front right, and historians of both India and Korea celebrate the publication of Monk Domyeong's book, “Gaya Buddhism, Unlatching the Gate,” into English at the Indian Embassy in Seoul on Friday. [EMBASSY OF INDIA IN KOREA]

Korea and India’s ties through Buddhism were celebrated with the specialized publication of studies on Gaya Buddhism by a Korean monk in Seoul on Friday.

“I hope that India and Korea can play an important role in enriching human culture by finding lost ancient history,” said Monk Domyeong to an audience at the Indian Cultural Centre in Seoul.

Monk Domyeong, the abbot of Yeoyeojeong Temple in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, was speaking at an event organized by the Indian Embassy in Seoul and the Gaya Culture Promotion Foundation to mark the recent publication of his book, “Gaya Buddhism, Unlatching the Gate,” into English.

His book theorizes that Buddhism arrived in Korea from India by sea through Princess Suriratna of Ayodhya, who legend has it came to the Korean Gaya kingdom in 48 A.D.

Historians have pointed to different routes for the entry of Buddhism to Korea and even challenge the existence of Princess Suriratna herself, citing a lack of evidence.

However, Monk Domyeong said during his presentation at the event that he wasn’t trying to discount other historical records and interpretations.

“My study simply points to the possibility that Buddhism came directly to Korea from India by sea,” he said.

Several Buddhist monks have raised the possibility of Buddhism entering Korea as early as 48 A.D. through Princess Suriratna and her brother, Monk Jangyu.

According to the Korean classic historical text Samgukyusa, Princess Suriratna married King Kim-Suro, the legendary founder of the Gaya Kingdom, and became Queen Heo Hwang-ok.

The princess and her brother are said to have brought a Buddhist pagoda along with them, the Pasa Stone Pagoda, which is now next to what is said to be the tomb of Queen Heo in Gimhae.

“Monk Domyeong’s book is an invaluable source that stands testimony to the deep civilizational links between ancient India and Korea,” said Amit Kumar, ambassador of India to Korea. “These ongoing exchanges reaffirm the close cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries.”

The book project and the event Friday was supported by the International Buddhist Confederation, the Foreign Ministry of Korea and the Gimhae city government.

India and Korea celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, and the event was organized by the Indian Embassy in Seoul as part of a series of forums and cultural exchanges to mark the occasion.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]