Buddhist Death Rituals in Late Chosŏn

In late Chosŏn, a wide range of Buddhist death rituals were performed with patronage from various social strata. These included major rituals such as the yesujae and the suryukchae, as well as smaller-scale rituals like invocations of Kṣitigarbha, the Ten Kings, and Hyŏnwang. Alongside these ritual practices, scriptures and manuals associated with these rituals were produced and circulated, and paintings, statues, and shrines were also created. This paper examines the texts that were published, the procedures through which these rituals were carried out, and the purposes they were intended to serve, focusing primarily on the yangban elite. It further analyzes the prayers, wishes, and vows contained in these materials to demonstrate a shared emphasis on the social and ethical values articulated through these rituals. In conclusion, the paper briefly reflects on the significance of the existence of multiple Buddhist death rituals with overlapping aims in this period.