[Series 2]

Overlooked Historical Records of the Three Korean Kingdoms deals mainly with materials related to the foundation of various old Korean kingdoms, to the factual history of the Silla Kingdom, and to the lives of famous Korean Buddhist monks. This book not only presents various myths and legends that reveal the phases of Korean ancestors’ old social life, economy, culture, and thoughts, but also furnishes ample data on their traditional manners and customs, whose traces are still found in modern Korean culture. The author particularly highlights the special roots and quality of the Korean race, as distinguished from those of the Chinese people, by inheriting Korean ancestors’ sense of the presence of the past and explaining the birth myths and historical events of all the known Korean kingdoms. The author also attempts to examine Buddhism’s influence on Korean culture, uncover the religiously-conditioned behavior and thinking of the Korean people, and clarify their cultural personality and identity. The book considers the great quantity of Buddhist narratives, anecdotes on primitive beliefs, and folktales, explores the religious consciousness of the Korean people, and studies their archetypal mindsets.

삼국유사는 한국의 다양한 고대 왕국들, 신라의 사실적인 역사, 그리고 한국의 유명한 승려들의 삶에 관련된 자료들을 주로 다룬 것이다. 이 책은 고대 한국인들의 사회생활, 경제, 문화, 그리고 사상들을 나타내는 다양한 신화들과 전설들의 소개뿐만 아니라 현대 한국문화에서도 여전히 그 자취가 발견되는 전통예절과 풍습에 관한 풍부한 자료들 또한 제공한다. 저자는 각별히, 중국인들의 것과는 구별되는 고대 한국인들의 과거에 대한 현대적 감각을 계승하고 탄생 신화는 물론 모든 유명한 한국의 왕국들에 대한 역사적인 사건들을 설명함으로써, 한민족의 고유한 근원과 특질을 돋보이게 한다. 또한 저자는 한국문화에 끼친 불교의 영향을 진단하고, 한국 사람들이 종교적으로 영향받은 행동양식과 사고방식을 드러내고, 그들의 문화적 개성과 주체성을 명백하게 설명한다. 본서에서는 방대한 양의 불교 설화들과 원시 신앙들에 대한 일화들, 민간설화들을 고찰하며 한국인들의 종교의식을 탐구하고, 그들의 원형적인 사고방식을 검토하였다.

고대 한국인들의 사회생활, 경제, 문화, 그리고 사상들을 나타내는 다양한 신화와 전설의 소개뿐만 아니라 현대 한국문화에서도 여전히 그 자취가 발견되는 전통예절과 풍습에 관한 풍부한 자료들을 실었다.

List of Maps
Translator’s Preface

I
1. Marvels I
Prologue
The Ancient Joseon Kingdom
The Wiman Joseon Kingdom
Mahan State
Two Prefectures
Seventy-two States
Nangnang State
Northern Daebang
Southern Daebang
Malgal State and Balhae State
Iseo State
The Five Gaya States
Northern Buyeo
Eastern Buyeo
The Goguryeo Kingdom
Byeonhan State and the Baekje Kingdom
Jinhan State
Entertainment Houses of the Four Seasons
King Hyeokgeose, the Founder of the Silla Kingdom
King Namhae, the Second Monarch
King Norye, the Third Monarch
King Talhae, the Fourth Monarch
Kim Alji during the Reign of King Talhae
Gentleman Yeono and Lady Se-o
King Michu and the Army of Bamboo Leaves
King Naemul and Kim Jesang
King Silseong, the Eighteenth Monarch
Shooting Arrows at the Geomungo Case
King Jicheollo
King Jinheung
Lady Dohwa and Gentleman Bihyeong
The Heavenly Suit of Jade Belts
Queen Seondeok Foresaw Three Things
Queen Jindeok
Kim Yusin
Duke Chunchu, King Taejong
Gentlemen Jangchun and Pa


II
2. Marvels II
Beommin, King Munmu
A Flute That Calms Raging Waves
Gentleman Jukji during the Reign of King Hyoso
King Seongdeok
Lady Suro
King Hyoseong
King Gyeongdeok, Monk Chungdam, and Great Priest Pyohun
King Hyegong
Great King Wonseong
Early Snows
King Heungdeok and Parrots
Great King Sinmu, Yeomjang, and Gungpa
Great King Gyeongmun, the Forty-Eighth Monarch
Gentleman Cheoyong and Manghae Temple
Great Queen Jinseong and Geotaji
King Hyogong
King Gyeongmyeong
King Gyeongae
Great King Kim Bu
Southern Buyeo, Earlier Baekje, and Northern Buyeo
King Mu
Gyeon Hwon of the Later Baekje Kingdom
“The Record of the Garak Kingdom”

III
3. The Promotion of Buddhism
Shundao, the First Propagator of Buddhism in the Goguryeo Kingdom
Nantuo Opened the Way for Buddhism in the Baekje Kingdom
Ado Cultivated the Foundation of Buddhism in the Silla Kingdom
King Wonjong Promoted Buddhism and Yeomchok Sacrificed Himself
King Beop Prohibited Killing
King Bojang Was Devoted to Taoism and Bodeok Moved His Chamber
Ten Saints in the Buddha Hall of Heungnyun Temple in the Eastern Capital City

4. Pagodas and Images of Buddha
The Stone Pedestal of Kasyapa Buddha
King Yu’s Pagoda at Liaodong Fortress
The Pasa Stone Pagoda at Geumgwan Fortress
Yeongtap Temple of the Goguryeo Kingdom
The Sixty-Foot Image of Buddha at Hwangnyong Temple
The Nine-Storied Pagoda at Hwangnyong Temple
The Bell of Hwangnyong Temple, the Image of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha at Bunhwang Temple, and the Bell of Bongdeok Temple
The Sixty-Foot Image of Buddha at Yeongmyo Temple
The Four-Buddha Mountain, the Buddha-Digging Mountain, and the Ten-Thousand Buddha Mountain
The Stone Image of Maitreya Buddha at Saengui Temple
Visvabhadra Bodhisattva in the Mural at Heungnyun Temple
The Three Appearances of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and Jungsaeng Temple
Baengnyul Temple
Minjang Temple
Buddhist Sariras Preserved in the Past and Present
A Maitreya Flower of Youth, Gentleman Misi, and Priest Jinja
Nohil Budeuk and Daldal Bakbak, Two Saints of Mt. Southern Baekwol
The One Thousand-Handed Bodhisattva at Bunhwang Temple and a Blind Child Regaining His Sight
Avalokitesvara and Jeongchwi, Two Bodhisattvas of Naksan Temple, and Josin
A Reflection of Buddha on the Fish Mountain
Fifty Thousand Incarnate Buddhas on Mt. Odae
The Life of Prince Bojildo on Mt. Odae in Myeongju
Five Buddhist Saints of Woljeong Temple on Mt. Odae
Gamsan Temple on Mt. Namwol
Cheollyong Temple
The Palace of Amitabha Buddha at Mujang Temple
Sariras in the Stone Pagoda at Baegeom Temple
Yeongchwi Temple
Yudeok Temple
The Record of a Stone Pagoda at Munsu Temple on Mt. Odae

IV
5. Anecdotes of Eminent Monks
Wongwang’s Studies in the Tang Empire
Monk Boyang and a Pear Tree
Yangji’s Magic Staff
Several Monks Who Traveled to India
Hyesuk and Hyegong Performed Miracles When They Associated with People
Jajang Established Buddhist Rules of Discipline
Wonhyo, an Unbridled Monk
Uisang’s Mission Work
Silence-Keeping Sabok
Jinpyo Delivered Bamboo Sticks for Divination
A Record Inscribed on the Stone Monument in Balyeon Forest on Mt. Pungak in Gwandong
Monk Seungjeon and Stone Skulls
Simji Received the Mantle of Patriarch Jinpyo
Daehyeon’s Yuga Sect and Beophae’s Avatamsaka Sect

V
6. Incantations
Milbon Exorcized Evil Spirits
Hyetong Brought the Evil Dragon to Its Knees
Myeongnang, the Founder Patriarch of the Divine Seal Sect

7. Tales of Telepathy
Divine Mother Seondo Loved Buddhist Events
Ukmyeon, a Female Servant Who Flew to the Western Pure Land While Reciting Prayers with Her Beads
Gwangdeok and Eomjang
Gyeongheung Met a Holy Man
The Incarnated Buddha Received an Offering
Monk Wolmyeong’s Song of the Duoshuai Heaven
Seonyul Came to Life
Kim Hyeon Attracted a Tigress
Monk Yungcheon’s Comet Song during the Reign of King Jinpyeong
Monk Jeongsu Saved a Freezing Woman

8. Hermits’ Lives
Nangji, the Cloud-Riding Monk, and Visvabhadra Bodhisattva’s Tree
Monk Yeonhoe’s Refusing an Honorable Position and Manjusri Bodhisattva’s Ridge
Monk Hyehyeon Seeks Quietude
Sinchung Left Public Office
Two Holy Priests on Mt. Po
Yeongjae Came upon Bandits
Mulgyeja
Monk Yeongyeo
Five Monks of Mt. Pocheon during the Reign of King Gyeongdeok
Monk Yeombul

9. Filial Piety
Master Jinjeong, Whose Filial Duty and Good Conduct Were Both Beautiful
Daeseong Was Twice Dutiful to His Parents in His Previous and Present Existences during the Reign of King Sinmun
Saji Hyangdeuk Fed His Parents with Flesh from His Thigh during the Reign of King Gyeongdeok
Son Sun Attempted to Bury His Child in the Ground during the Reign of King Heungdeok
A Poor Young Lady Who Served Her Mother

Postscript
Index