Daoism in Korea

There were many Daoist followers in Korea in the 7th century based on the Korean record in the Incidents of the Three Kingdoms. When the Gao Emperor of the Tang got to know of this situation, he sent Daoist priests and scriptures to Korea. Daoism became the national religion during the Korean Gaojuli Dynasty. Chinese Daoist priests went to Korea on religious missions and converted Buddhist temples into Daoist temples and their position was higher than that of Confucians.

In the Gaoli era (same time as the Song Dynasty), Emperor Rui Zong built the first Daoist Temple --Blessing Fount Palace, and conducted fasts and offerings ( 齋醮儀式 Qijiao Yishi ) to avoid disasters for the country. Prince Yuanzong practiced Daoist Keeping Awake at the Day of Genshen and made it a national custom.

When Korea entered the Li Dynasty, they sent ambassadors to China to learn Daoist Fasts and Offerings rituals. Cheng Emperor of the Ming Dynasty sent persons specially assigned for taking 600 kinds of Daoist moral tracts ( 道教勸善書 Daojiao Quanshan Shu ) to Korea. Because a Daoist organization was not formed in Korea, it vanished into folk beliefs or other religious beliefs (Heavenly Daoism). There are eleven Daoist temples in Korea and three hundred Daoist priests. Though Korean Daoist temples are quite different from those of China, it is alive and closely linked to the Korean's daily life. 朝鮮的道教