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The dominant religion of the Unifed SINRA was Buddhism. It was unanimously accepted as the spiritual guide from the king on the top down to those in the bottom rung. There was a massive exodus of Buddhist monks leaving the country to learn the true teachings of Buddha in China and India. They were the Yolban (Niravana Sutra) sect, the Kyeyul (Vinaya) sect, the Hwaom (Avatamsaka Sutra) sect, the Popsong (Dharmata) sect and the Popsang (Dharmalakshana) sect. The sect which was particularly popular among the aristocrats was Hwaom.
Among the masses, there appeared a new sect called Chongt'o-gyo (GEUKRAK), which made no demand for understanding the inscrutable text of the sutra. It was an elaboration of the Mahayana doctrine of the Bodhisattvas, which taught that one could obtain salvation (enter the "GEUKRAK") simply by YEOMBUL. It taught of the future world called "niravana" and salvation which follows the painful life in the contemporary world.
Confucianism was of great use in consolidating the centralized ruling system in SINRA. In the second year of SINMUNWANG (682), GUKHAK was established. In the l6th year of SEONGDEOKWANG (7l7), Confucius, l0 Chinese philosophers and 72 disciples were introduced and their images were enshrined.In the fourth year of WONSEONGWANG (788), DOKSEOSAMPUMGWA was institutionalized to determine eligibility for the government office. The examination was based on the subjects that were taught at Tae Hak Gam.
HYANGGA genre, the special SINRA poetic form, developed a rich lyricism. SAMGUKYUSA includes 25 HYANGGA poems, including ll of Kyunyo-chon's "Bohyunsiphyun-ga." Under the reign of JINSEONGYEOWANG (887 - 897) Taegu Hwasang gathered a large number of these HYANGGA into an anthology called "SAMDAEMOK," but unfortunately it has not survived. The art of TONGILSILLA period highly advanced as manifested in BULGUKSA and SEOGULAM. In discussing art forms inspired by the practice of the Buddha faith, the castings of bronze temple BEOMJONG can by no means be overlooked.
BALHAE maintained a friendly relation with T'ang Dynasty which had been hostile to it. BALHAE modeled its governing system on T'ang's system and institutions. Buddhism was the dominant religion in BALHAE. Confucianism was ardently advocated by the ruling class as an idealistic system of government. It is important to bear in mind that the culture of BALHAE reflects the elements of GOGURYEO.
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