Early Buddhism in Korea

-Of course, Buddhism in Korea was heavily influenced by Korean shamanism when it was first introduced.
   -Blended Buddhism with nature worship.
   -Special shamanistic holy sites had Buddhist temples built on them.
   -Inside some Korean Buddhist temples are shrines set up for the Korean pagan pantheon.
   -Heavily emphasized the importance of meditation.
   -Very similar to Zen Buddhism in Japan, which was spread there by Korean monks.
   -Emphasis also on monastic life, in nature.
-First Korean kingdom to be introduced to Buddhism was Gogoryeo, brought by the Chinese monk Sundo in 372 (according to the Samguk Yusa).
-384- an Indian monk named Marananta brought Buddhism to Baekje.
   -Extremely well-received.
-Sometime between 417-458, an Indian monk arrived bringing Buddhism to Silla, but the reception was mixed.  The common folk seemed to be into it, but the aristocrats, not so much.
   -Maybe the resistance was the result of some of the tenants of Buddhism's incompatibility with Korean shamanism.
      -Buddhism denies the importance of ancestor worship.
      -Many didn't understand the concept of Pure Land Buddhism.
-Why does early Buddhism matter?
   -Specialist monk class emerges, supported by the working class.
   -Construction of temples, shrines, monasteries.
   -Huge source of culture exchange.
      -For example, Buddhist monks from Gogoryeo traveled to Silla, craftsmen from Baekje traveled to Silla to work on construction, missionaries were sent to China and India to look for relics, Baekje monks spread Buddhism to Japan, etc.
   -Buddhist orders were set up, such as the Hwarang in Silla.
      -Set up to be an elite group of perfect men.
   -Buddhism influenced politics via morality, and would soon cause society to evolve into a caste system (the "Bone Rank") influenced heavily by Chinese culture.
   -Synthesized in the late 600s by Wonhyo, a Buddhist monk in unified Silla.
-Interesting differences in Korean Buddhism.
   -Gogoryeo- mixed with Korean shamanism.
   -Baekje- mixed with Japanese Buddhism.
   -Silla- most fundamentalist and austere, focused on legit Indian Buddhism.