The Compilation Date and Purpose of the Kallangsa Hyegŏ Guksa Stele : In the Context of the Water-Land Ritual in Late Goryeo

This study has demonstrated that the Stele of National Preceptor Hyegŏ of Kallyang Monastery (Kallyangsa Hyegŏ Guksa Bi), long believed to be a memorial stele erected for Hyegŏ (惠居), who served as guksa (National Preceptor) during the reign of King Gwangjong of Goryeo, was in fact not produced shortly after his death, but rather was composed in the late Goryeo period with a specific agenda in mind. The stele records that the Monk Bouk of Gwangmyeong Monastery took the lead in overseeing the reconstruction of Kallyang Monastery and in compiling Hyegŏ’s biographical account, and it emphasizes the establishment of a Water-Land Ritual altar (Water-Land doryang) at the monastery. On this basis, it is inferred that Monk Hon-gu (混丘, 1251–1322) of the Jogye Order, who was appointed as royal a preceptor since King Chungsuk’s enthronement in 1313 while serving as abbot of Gwangmyeong Monastery, was involved in the composition of the stele. Hon-gu, who had been in a rival relationship with Monk Jeong-o (丁午) of the Cheontae Order for long time, is believed to have compiled the Newly Compiled Water-Land Ritual Manual (Sinpyeon Surug ŭimun) in order to systematize the Jogye Order’s version of the Water-Land Ritual distinct from that of the Cheontae Order, and to have sought to secure its historical legitimacy through the Kallyangsa Stele.