Buddhist Persecution in Joseon History (Pt 1 of 2)

[cmoneyspinner]

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Are You a Fan of Korean Historical Dramas? As a loyal fan of Korean historical dramas, if the movie or series was inspired by or based on historical records, I often do the research to contrast and compare the factual accounts versus the fictional presentation. As a member of an online Q&A community, I was intrigued when someone asked a question about the Buddhist persecution in Joseon. I thought to myself: Buddhists were persecuted? () In “Six Flying Dragons”, one of the kings was a devout Buddhist. So? Persecution? When? How? Why? (???) There are several historical K-dramas that incorporate the persecution of the Catholics in the plot or storyline. But in searching for a drama that referenced persecution of Buddhists, I could not find any. () While Korean dramas often explore spiritual and religious themes and contain Buddhist elements, the storylines involving references to Buddhism never mention anything about persecution. REAL KOREAN HISTORY: In the actual history of ancient Korea, Buddhists were indeed persecuted, particularly under rulers who favored Confucianism. Even so, there are key moments in history where acceptance of the Buddhist philosophy/religion gained traction and became accepted, in spite of resistance. The Three Kingdoms Period (Goguryeo, Baekje, […]
Read original article here:

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The overlooked history of Buddhist persecution in Korea, through the lens of historical dramas and real events. Part 1 of a two-part series.

popgeeks.com

 

[DramasOverKimchi]

Are You a Fan of Korean Historical Dramas? As a loyal fan of Korean historical dramas, if the movie or series was inspired by or based on historical records, I often do the research to contrast and compare the factual accounts versus the fictional presentation. As a member of an online Q&A community, I was intrigued when someone asked a question about the Buddhist persecution in Joseon. I thought to myself: Buddhists were persecuted? () In “Six Flying Dragons”, one of the kings was a devout Buddhist. So? Persecution? When? How? Why? (???) There are several historical K-dramas that incorporate the persecution of the Catholics in the plot or storyline. But in searching for a drama that referenced persecution of Buddhists, I could not find any. () While Korean dramas often explore spiritual and religious themes and contain Buddhist elements, the storylines involving references to Buddhism never mention anything about persecution. REAL KOREAN HISTORY: In the actual history of ancient Korea, Buddhists were indeed persecuted, particularly under rulers who favored Confucianism. Even so, there are key moments in history where acceptance of the Buddhist philosophy/religion gained traction and became accepted, in spite of resistance. The Three Kingdoms Period (Goguryeo, Baekje, […]
Read original article here:

%%title%%

The overlooked history of Buddhist persecution in Korea, through the lens of historical dramas and real events. Part 1 of a two-part series.

popgeeks.com

Y’all really out here diving deep into Korean history and drama? I love it! But let’s be real, “Six Flying Dragons” had me more focused on the epic battles and less on the religious politics. Like, can we just admit that historical accuracy takes a backseat when there’s a chance to show off some sword fighting?

As for the Buddhist persecution, it’s wild how dramas gloss over that part of history. I mean, we get it, Confucianism was all the rage during Joseon, but a little acknowledgment of the struggles would add some serious depth. Maybe we need a drama that tackles that head-on? I’d watch it, but only if they throw in some epic plot twists and a swoon-worthy lead!

What do y’all think? Would you be down for a drama that really digs into those historical complexities, or are we just here for the pretty costumes and dramatic love triangles?

 

[Zizi_Hoang]

I watch many Korean historical dramas, but I notice that Buddhism’s persecution is almost never shown. I think this is a missed opportunity for writers. A monk character forced to live in the mountains, hiding people in the temple, could make very good drama. Many dramas show Catholic persecution, so it is not like audiences avoid stories about religion. Maybe it is because Confucianism became such a strong part of Korean identity during Joseon, and showing it as a persecutor might make viewers uncomfortable. It also seems that some of the historical stories, like that of Ichadon in Silla, would be very interesting to adapt. His martyrdom caused a major change. In dramas, this could be emotional and educational at the same time. I also think showing Buddhist martial arts in a historical setting could help people understand that being peaceful and being able to defend yourself are not opposites.

 

[Lovelace Twins]

The shift from Buddhism to Neo-Confucianism in Joseon is a perfect example of how ideology serves political purposes. Neo-Confucianism gave rulers a framework for social order and control. Buddhism, with its monastic communities and independent temples, probably looked like a rival power structure. It makes sense that the state would restrict monks and push them out of urban centers. Isolation weakens political influence. Even though the persecution was strong, it was also calculated. Forcing military service on monks could be seen as both punishment and a way to turn them into useful resources for the state. What is most fascinating is how religion’s survival often depends on unofficial support, such as the queens backing Buddhist communities. Without that, Buddhism in Korea might have been reduced even further. Today, we see similar patterns in other countries—belief systems that are suppressed in public but kept alive quietly until conditions change.

 

[Harvardine]

For me, the survival of Korean Buddhism through centuries of suppression is a sign of cultural resilience. Even when laws banned monks from cities, the temples in the mountains became centers of art, literature, and philosophy. Many of Korea’s most beautiful cultural treasures—paintings, sculptures, architecture—come from these remote places. This shows that even under persecution, a tradition can contribute greatly to national heritage. I think the challenge now is not survival but authenticity, as you mentioned about modern Buddhism. When outside influences, like Japanese colonial rules and modernization, change practices, people worry about losing the original meaning. In my opinion, cultures must adapt to survive, but they must also protect their core values. If Korean Buddhism can maintain its principles of compassion, mindfulness, and self-discipline, then even a modern version will still connect to its roots. History proves it has already survived worse than modernization.

 

[cmoneyspinner]

What struck me most is how similar this story is to other parts of the world. In Europe, we see religion changing according to the ruler’s beliefs—Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodoxy—each gaining or losing power. In China, the persecution of Confucian scholars under Qin Shi Huang parallels what Buddhists faced in Joseon. The main difference is the cultural framework. In Korea, Confucianism was not just a belief system; it became a method of governance. That gave it the authority to push Buddhism aside. I think looking at this in a global context shows that religious suppression is often less about theology and more about political control. What is inspiring is that communities almost always find ways to survive—sometimes in secret, sometimes in exile, sometimes by adapting practices.