This study is to examine the composition and the task of Dochongseop(都摠攝) and Pansa(判事) that were newly introduced in late Goryeo Dynasty to find out how Koryo changed the operation of Buddhist system in its late days.
Dochongseop was installed in acception of Yuan system during Yuan’s intervention. There were Dochongseops for Yangga(兩街), Seongyo(禪敎), Seokgyo(釋敎), Ogyo(五敎) and Jogyejong(曺溪宗). Pansa Vias first installed during the reign of Gongminwang, and there were Pan-Jogyejong-sa(判曺溪宗事), Pan-Hwaeomjong-sa(判華嚴宗事) and Pan-Cheontaejong-sa(判天台宗事). Dochongseop and Pansa had participated in the appointment of Juji (住持, chief priest) and the operation of individual Buddhist sect, and they were installed in separation from Seungnoksa(僧錄司). Before Gongminwang, there were Seokgyo-Dochongseop, Ogyo-dochongseop and Jogyejong-Dochongseop under Yangga-Dochongsseop. After Gongminwang, there were Pansas such as Pan-Cheontaejong-sa and Pan-Hwaeomjong-sa under Seongyo-dochongsa. While Dochongseops for Yangga, Seokgyo, Ogyo and Jogyejong were installed temporarily, Seongyo-dochongseop and Pansa were regular ones.
In early days of Goryeo, the appointment of Juji and the operation of individual sect were carried out autonomously by Buddhists themselves. But in the course of the coup d’etat by soldiers and the war against Mongol Empire, there were many changes in the environment of Buddhism and Buddhist system. Especially, there were serious conflicts among the Buddhists about the appointment of Jujis and the operation of Buddhist sects. Therefore, the government installed Dochongseop and Pansa to control the appointment of Jujis and the operation of sects directly. Thus, the installation of Dochongseop and Pansa had the intention to negate the autonomy of Buddhists and to raise the sovereignty of nation upon the Buddhism through the direct control of the nation on the appointment of Jujis and the operation of sects. It shows that the seungjeong (Buddhist ministry) that had been divided into Seungnoksa(nation) and Buddhist community were unified more and more under the control of the nation.
Especially, Seongyo-dochongseop and Pansa were regular posts. Therefore, the appointment of Jujis and the oreration of sects were continuously made by specific Seung-Kwan(Buddhism officials) and the intervention of the nation in the appointment of Jujis and the oreration of sects got greater and greater. And, as Pansa was also installed in the ordinary government organization, it shows that the Buddhist sects were gradually considered as an ordinary political organization, though the politics and the Buddhism had been separated in Goryeo. Therefore, the installation of Dochongseop and Pansa was a dear sign for the secularization and the politicalization of Buddhism along with the fact that the priests with seclusion oath were appointed as officials to hold the secular posts.