The aim of this study was to present status and orientation of Buddhist devotees and woman Buddhists by discovering and restoring their presence and roles in historical materials to expand the subject of Korean Buddhist to the four types of disciple, since the history of Korean Buddhist is currently dominated by Bhikkus and Bhikkunis.
The subject of the Buddhist community is the four types of disciple of Bhikku, Bhikkuni, Upāsaka, and Upāsikā. There is a only difference in the role and level of goal that people who entered the priesthood and people who practice Buddhist austerities in society pursue, but no superiority or inferiority exist between them.
At this point, it is necessary to check what is the Buddhist ideal that Ilyeon delivered in "Samguk Yusa" by studying Buddhist devotees and woman Buddhists written in it. Ilyeon said that there was a huge devotion of not only bhikku and bhikkuni but also Buddhist devotees and woman Buddhists in "Samguk Yusa," while Buddhism is transmitted, authorized, admitted, and generalized to Goryeo, and this is connected to equality and Bul-e thought (不二思想), the main ideas of Ilyeon.
"Samguk Yusa" written by Ilyeon is our nation's bible that recorded our origin and vestige as well as "Samguk Sagi" by Kim Busik. Ilyeon wanted to recover our independence and collapsed public order from national hardships caused by Mongolian invade and interference of Yuan Dynasty.
"Samguk Sagi" is an official history written in the view of rationalism of Confucianism and political morality, however, "Samguk Yusa" is a classic which contains the history of spiritual culture of Goryeo, including nation's starting point and a variety of histories such as politics, economics, society, science, and cultural parts like religion, literature, art as well.
Identities and religious practices of Buddhist devotees and woman Buddhists can be understood by studying their roles, activities, and orientations in "Samguk Yusa," regardless of what social status they had.
This study attempts to focus on the general opinions about the intention of Ilyeon of writing "Samguk Yusa" and various Buddhism, culture, and religious activities, to reveal the impact of Buddhist devotees and woman Buddhists on spreading and renaissance of Buddhism. It is hoped this study will present status and religious actions of Buddhists nowadays by reviewing their work in Korean era.