Re-considerations on Jin-eok’s Sujeong Kyolsa(Crystal Fraternity) - based on ‘historical-comparative method’

This article aims to re-consider the historical meaning of Jin-eok(津億)’s Sujeong Kyolsa(水精結社, Crystal Fraternity) re-evaluating veteran scholar’s viewpoints. There are two lines of understanding on Sujeong Kyolsa. Some scholars consider Sujeong Kyolsa as a pratical society of Yogacara(瑜伽宗) inrelation to Jeomchal Dharma Mass(占察法會), another scholars think that it is a devotional fraternity for going Amitabha’s Pure Land(Sukhāvatī). I agree with the latter. In order to build the viewpoint in which Sujeng Kyolsa is a Kyolsa of Pureland Buddhism, there is a problem to solve. It is the problem of the status of Jeomchal Dharma Mass. If we consider it as a central practice of Sujeong Kyolsa, it is a practical society of Beopsanjong in Koryo Period. But I can’t agree it. Because Jeomchal Dharma Mass has been practised twice a month, I think that it have been considered as not a practice but a ritual for holding precepts and repentance as Posal(布薩, uposatha). Next, I re-evaluated whether Sujeong Kyolsa belong to Yogacara or Pureland Buddhism. I said that I agree with the scholars who considered Sujeong Kyolsa as a devotional group for wishing Amitabha’s Pure Land. Extracting from the key words or concepts from ‘Sujengsaki’(水精社記, Records on Sujeng Kyolsa), I ’d like to prove its character is not Yogacara-like but Pureland-like. Nevertheless, I can’t agree that Sujeong Kyolsa is not only Fraternit for Pure Land but also Fraternity for reciting ‘Namo Amitabha’. Becuase Jin-eok, the founder of Sujeong Kyolsa, didn’t choose ‘Namo Amitabha’ one and only pratical method. He embraced many different pratices in his community, and recommand his members to practise a method preferable for their ability. So I think that Sujeong Kyolsa can be the Fraternity for Amitabha’s Pureland, but can’t be the Fraternity for reciting Amitabha’s Name.