彌勒山의 名稱에 對한 考察 = A study on the name of Mt. MIREUX(彌勒)

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

MT. MIREUX is located in IKSAN-GUN (益山郡) in CHUNBUK (全北) province. It is called MIREUX-SAN(彌勒山), and YONGHWA-SAN(龍華山) in the ancient records, though now they have separate names. For example, the name of MIREUX(彌勒) is named for the mountain Which consists of a small Buddhist temple, SAJAAM(獅子庵) and a citadel, KIJUNSUNG(箕準城). Whereas the name of YONGHWA(龍華) is indicated by the left side of the mountain slope which enters into YOSAN(礪山) from KEUMMA(金馬). These two mountains are connected by means of a hillock which stands 156 meters above the sea level.
Hereover, Mt. YONGHWA(龍華), as it is called now, stretches it's range to Mt. KEUMMA(金馬) or Mt. KUNJA(乾子) in the south. I think that Mt. KEUMMA(金馬) and Mt. KUNJA(乾子) did not have separate names in ancient times. Maybe they used the village name indicating these two mountains, for the mountains had not yet been named. As time passed, I imagine that these mountain's names have been separated in order to easily distinguish them.
(I) The introduction of Buddhism swayed the whole of Korean and developed an established faith. In those days the Korean name MIREUMOI(미르뫼) was inscribed like the Chinese name MIREUX(彌勒). MIREU(미르) is the ancient name of Korean dragons and also MIREUX(彌勒) indicated Buddha who was the ancient name of Korean dragons and also MIREUX(彌勒) indicated Buddha who was the founder of Buddhism. Buddha had preached his sermon under the tree of YONGHWA(龍華) three times by the ancient records and subsequently, the ancient people of Korean tried to match these two names of MIREUX(彌勒) and YONGHWA(龍華). It is a kind of folk-etymology. This fact resulted in the confusion with the other name. From the above fact, I think that the narratives of SEODONG(薯童), the Korean legend of greatman's birth, developed into an unformed tale with Buddhist flavoring.
(2) I insist that in this case MIREU(미르) is not the ancient name of Korean dragons, only GER (MUL) (渚), MIL(蜜), MAGI(馬只) are inscribed. They were founded in KEUMMAGER(金馬渚), GIMOMIL(枳慕蜜), GIMAMAGI (只馬馬只), GIMOHYEUN(支牟縣), KEUMMA-GUN(金馬郡)(the old place name of IKSAN) and examples of MORO(牟盧) , MIRI(彌離) which were the old national place names in the times of SAMHAN(三韓) about 3000 years ago. We also can find MIGI(彌知), the place name of PECKCHAY(百濟) and SHILLA(新羅) dynasty, in the SAMGUKSAGI(三國史記), their history book written in 1145 A.D.
(3) Why were ancient people used the name of MIREUMOI(미르뫼) instead of KEUMMA(金馬) or GIMO(枳慕)? I think the reason is their use of the previous name, Mt. KEUMMA(金馬山). Therefore they want to avoid using a doubler name.
(4) Distinction and selection made the ancient people call MIREUXSAN(彌勒山) and YOHGHWASAN(龍華山) separately. It was their own volition. KUNRIPSAH(軍入山) is now called YONGHWASAN(龍華山) in the records, thereby provding this.