New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-01
Korean Buddhism

pp XIX. l94 Marshall Jones Company.
In "Korean Buddhism Frederick
Starr Pil. D., professor Of Anthrcpc
ogy, University OF Chicago, has put
into more lasting, more widereaching
form, three lectures given to popu-
lar audiences Four journeys, since
1911, into Korea-that little known pen
insula Important enough TO have been
for years the pet bloody bone of CON
tentlon betwiXt Oh ma, Russia and ia
pan-furnished a real basis for the
lectures and the present book. Enough
literary sense to get real 'atmos-
phere" furnishes. also. real excuse.
In "History" "CQndition," and "Art,"
we get three facets of his subject
For, according to Dr. Starr Korea's his
tory is largely ore Of Buddhism there:
Knrea's future is largely dependent on
Japan's attitude towarA the Christian
tity-lille "AIahayana Buddhism" vita ly
alive. DR.. Starr believes III Korea now,
and Korea art is, as is usual wi h
primitive or nature communing peoples,
Of course. religious, too.
The most interesting thing in Korean
history, rerhaps, is that into it's three
ancient kingdoms, away back in the
fourth and fifth centuries Of our era
came a We ow man, a white man and
black man mon Of advanced IDEAS
III life, art, education, religion gov
eminent, men, very highly Representa-
tive men. missionaries of 2 faith; men
"of the three great races Of the world
the ve' low. white and ack"-bearing
into respective kingdoms irrespective
Of enc another and OF peoples Their.
Buddhism. And. perhaps. another
pertinent point we may add Isl tina
HudGha's curative nhil0F ophy against
the evils Of Brahamnnism has now in
Korea gwen way to present day almost
qyniy.ersal acceptances of a "Mahayana''
Buddhism, emphasizing the Christian
ty-like creed OF the immortal soul.
Professor Starts book has. fortu-
nately. humor: his hard, but philoso-
phical, jaunts into inaccessible noun
tain regions, to inconsistencies; quaint
harsh manners of transportation; and
what he found on arrival at the monas-
teries. Devotees getting out to their
(so-to speak, religious reveilles, Eat
o'clock a. m" to the sounds of bell
and gongs and the oning of son~s ard
/ prayers; fifteen thousand people COM
! ing un many miles into the mountains
I TO celebrate Buddha's birthday, brought
up to date "artisticaliy' in a preten-
tious "move' of the source OF their
worship; Booker I. Washington sort
of work being begun by these Budd-
/ hists, in matters of lay schools and
community service" for natives dwell
ing nearby Buddhistic monasteries /;
all the inmates of a monastery going
''in their best robes, out to the farthest
gate" to meet and greet Gin the dust)
new teacher!al these interesting
things repay professors of anthropol-
! ogy ut least, for hard journeys, and
are boon to all US interested too, in
our cushiony chairs Mt home.
Three interesting reminders about
! Buddhism are: Buddhism has evidence
! of vitality in having perhaps as many
sects and slants as Christianity; Budd-
hiam Is full of emphasis on art Gas the
twenty-seven finely chosen plates here
show; and, thirdly (oycn IA the an,
cicnt Greeks), Korean Buddhists ga
into the mountains Gas Christ did, too },
to worship.