The Indigenous Religions of Silla: Their Diversity and Durability

This article examines the indigenous religions of the Silla dynasty. According to the Silla annals of the Samguk sagi, religion was significant in all walks of life in Korea's premodern societies and formed a basis for state rule. Although Buddhism was recognized as Silla's central religious belief from the early sixth century, other religions and convictions existed in Silla society. Introduced and discussed here are shamanism, Taoist thought, belief in spirits of springs and dragons, progenitor myths, state sacrifice rituals, and portent ideology.