A Comparative Study of Death as Understood in Korean Buddhism and Daesoon Jinrihoe: Focusing on the Concept of Reincarnation, Myeongbu, and the Ten Kings of the Afterworld

Abstract

◾ Abstract Religions The purpose of this study is to compare death the Korean Buddhist understanding of death with that of Daesoon Jinrihoe. Various concepts, including reincarnation ( 輪廻 ), myeongbu ( 冥府 , ‘the postmortem offices’ or ‘afterworld’) and the Ten Kings ( 十王 ) of the afterworld are used to explain views on death in both religions. However, these concepts differ not only in their content and categorization, but also in terms of the meaning they occupy within the doctrines of each religion. In other words, although many similarities can be found between Buddhism and Daesoon Jinrihoe’s concept of reincarnation, at the same time, differences between them can also be pointed out. The differences include the period of time between one’s death and reincarnation and also the importance of reliance upon other people or divine powers during the reincarnation process. With regard to ideas involving myŏngbu, there are far more differences than similarities. Both 185 and Daesoon Jinrihoe shares a similar notion of an afterlife judgment presided over by the Ten Kings. However, many differences can be found when it comes to Daesoon Jinrihoe other view of myŏngbu, known as ‘myeongbu gongsa (the Reordering Works of Myeongbu).’ These works are considered to be of great doctrinal importance in Daesoon Jinrihoe. Therefore, the concepts of reincarnation and myeongbu that appear in both traditions should not be considered identical and need to be redefined accordingly in comparative contexts. In other words, the concepts of reincarnation, myeongbu, and the Ten Kings as they appear in the Daesoon Thought should first be differentiated from their counterparts found in Buddhism and then be redefined in the context of the new and independent system of thought in which they exist. These concepts should then be applied to broader theoretical discourse on