Comforting Spirits, Imposing Guilt: The Modern Tradition of T’aea Yŏngga Ch’ŏndojae at Kudam Temple
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.22.2025.95.06Keywords:
t’aea yŏngga ch’ŏndojae, Kwijamosin (Hārītī), invention of tradition, abortion, death ritualsAbstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the elements and mediums through which Korean monks legitimize and popularize the newly invented tradition of t’aea yŏngga ch’ŏndojae – the Korean Buddhist death rite for sending the spirit of the unborn child, that has developed in Korea over the past three decades. This article will focus on the t’aea yŏngga ch’ŏndojae tradition from Kudam Temple, and on several elements, like scriptures, belief in a deity called Kwijamosin, and miraculous narratives that play a key role in the process of creating and establishing a new sacred tradition.
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