Intangible Culture ISSN:2799-3868(Print) 무형문화연구

In this article, I will approach Korean buddhist pilgrimage from three perspectives and will try to synthesize them based on the distinction between ‘deep religion’ and ‘surface religion’. First, in Chapter 2, as a preliminary consideration, I briefly examine Korean buddhist pilgrimage after liberation (1945). In Chapter 3, three perspectives are introduced: the buddhist perspective, the religious studies perspective, and the tourism perspective. First, from the buddhist perspective, pilgrimage to holy places can be divided into ‘external pilgrimage’ and ‘internal pilgrimage’. ‘External pilgrimage’ refers to the behavior of external pilgrimage, and ‘inner pilgrimage’ refers to reaching the purity of the inner world through external pilgrimage. Also, based on Wonhyo’s thought, ‘pilgrimage in the deep sense’ and ‘pilgrimage in the superficial meaning’ can be distinguished. Second, I introduce Turner’s view as ‘the religious studies perspective’. Borrowing the concept of rite of passage, Turner divides the pilgrimage into three stages. It is a process of separation, a process of conversion, and a process of joining. In the third stage, that is, the process of joining, the pilgrim is said to return to his home and to enjoy a new religious status. Third, if we explain pilgrimage from the tourism perspective, pilgrimage to holy places belongs to a religious act, but at the same time, since the form takes the shape of travel, it is closely related to tourism. However, these three viewpoints can be synthesized through the distinction between ‘surface religion’ and ‘deep religion’. The characteristic of superficial religion is to cling to the superficial meaning of letters and to engage in religious activities for selfish purposes. On the other hand, the characteristic of deep religion is not obsessed with the literal expression of religion, but to reach the deep meaning hidden behind the surface. Therefore, ‘pilgrimage to the holy places of deep religion’ corresponds to ‘inner pilgrimage’ and ‘pilgrimage in the deep meaning’. And ‘pilgrimage to the holy places of superficial religions’ includes ‘external pilgrimage’ of buddhism, ‘Turner’s view’ and ‘the tourism perspective’. In this way, if we divide into ‘deep religion’ and ‘surface religion’, we can synthesize the above three perspectives.