An Analysis of Metaphysical Worldviews in Sasipgujae -Ritual Structure and Cosmology of Gwaneumsisik

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines the metaphysical worldviews embedded in Sasipgujae, a Korean Buddhist funeral ritual actively performed in contemporary temples, with particular focus on Gwaneumsisik as its core component. Religious rituals reflect the cultural circumstances of their participants while encapsulating specific worldviews.
In Buddhism, the cognition of one's existence means understanding the fundamental principles of the universe, explicated through dependent origination, which has shaped Buddhist views on life and death, particularly karma and saṃsāra. Through historical and ritual analysis, this research traces how Sasipgujae evolved from Indian Siagwihoe to Chinese Suryukjae before taking its current form in Korea, representing a profound process of cultural adaptation and religious synthesis. As a result of this process, Gwaneumsisik became established as the central belief system within the metaphysical worldview of Sasipgujae, which embodies Korean Buddhism's distinctive approach to death and posthumous salvation while preserving essential doctrinal elements. Its four phases of ritual procedures—calling departed spirits, establishing proof through Avalokiteśvara, offering spiritual sustenance, and facilitating transformation—manifests abstract Buddhist concepts within the cosmic framework of the three thousand great galaxies of worlds (三千大天世界). The central role of Avalokiteśvara as soul-guiding Bodhisattva highlights the distinctive Pure Land characteristics of Korean Buddhism, creating a bridge between doctrinal Buddhism and practitioners' practical needs. This research demonstrates that these rituals remain vital expressions of cultural identity and religious meaning, continuing to shape Korean perspectives on death, the afterlife, and ancestral relationships. By analyzing these practices through historical and philosophical lenses, we develop a deeper understanding of how Buddhism has influenced Korean thanatological perspectives and how these perspectives continue to evolve in response to contemporary needs. This interdisciplinary approach contributes to the studies of religious rituals and the dynamic nature of cultural transmission across religious traditions.