> Yes, the connection between Korea(Gaya) and India in the 1st century
> CE is one of the historical mysteries.

Buddhism: The Bridge Between Korea and India
By Santosh Kumar Gupta

In the relationship between Korea and India, whenever we think of our
ancestors a clear cut Buddhist influence emerges. Some scholars have
recently suggested the origins of a link between Korea and India and
their research is worthy of consideration. Buddhism is the bridge that
used to link these two nations, promoting the exchange of ideas and
traditions.

It took many centuries for Buddhism to grow and spread, but it has
played a pivotal role in the region. After its entry into Korea,
Buddhism found wide acceptance, being embraced by a large number of
people. Now this common heritage can offer the means of attaining a
cultural understanding between India and Korea.

While Buddhism was officially introduced into Korea in A.D. 372
through China, there are wide-ranging scholarly debates over the
chronology and method of its introduction. Many scholars assert that
Buddhism came to Korea directly from India, while another group
asserts that Buddhism came to Korea through central Asia.

One line of argument says that Princess Ho of Ayodhya married King
Suro of Korea. He founded the Kaya Dynasty in the 1st century A.D.
According to Samgukyusa (a historical book of the Three Kingdoms),
after arriving on Korean soil, Princess Ho said, ``I am a princess of
Ayuta of India. My parents had a dream in which they saw that the holy
King Suro of Karak was not yet married, so they sent me to become your
queen. Thus, I started on my long voyage.'' After King Suro married
the princess of India, the royal couple had a son and lived happily
for many years.

The matrimonial alliance of Suro and Ho resembled the confluence of
two harmonious beings _ heaven and earth, the sun and the moon. The
name Suro is very similar to ``sura,'' a religious drink of ancient
India. It is also used as a ``suravira'' in ancient Indian History.

Numerous elements in this legendary saga indicate the deep
relationship between two. Suro is supposed to have said, ``A heavenly
god commanded me to descend to earth, establish a kingdom and become
its king.'' Here Suro sought to legitimize his rein, a method common
among Indian kings for consolidating their authority.

The story of Ho demonstrates the manner in which Buddhism spread.
According to the historical records, Princess Ho brought a pagoda and
Buddha statue along with her. It is also mentioned that her servants
and attendants were with her.

A recent genetic discovery made by Korean scientists establishes a
relationship between India and Korea. It is further corroborated by
DNA evidence. It is a matter of pleasure and pride that many centuries
ago an Indian Princess was married to a Korean king. This matrimonial
alliance between the two was perhaps the foundation of interaction
between Korea and India.

Buddhism assimilated with the indigenous culture, emerged as the
national religion of Korea, penetrating to the nation's core.

Many Buddhist monks worked to shape the religion, a major early figure
being Marananta, who came to Paekje in the 4th century A.D. However,
it is the Samguksagi is not clear on how an Indian monk came to
receive a warm welcome from the king. In A.D. 574 three Indian monks
came to the peninsula with a Korean monk, Anhong, and initiated the
construction of many monasteries and temples.

According to one story, King Ayuk (Muwa), identified with Ashoka
Maurya of India, sent iron and gold to Korea to cast the image of the
Buddha. Koreans used the metals to construct the monastery. However,
the historical records show the Ashokan period was much earlier than
the construction of the Hwangnyong Monastery.

After the introduction of Buddhism to Korea, many scholars and monks
exhibited great enthusiasm for visiting India to learn more about
Buddhism or for pilgrimages to places important to the memory of the
Buddha. Some Korean monks set out for India in the early 6th century
A.D.

The monk Kyomic was the first to visit India. He studied the Vinaya
text, first going to the Samghana Temple of central India where he
collected the Sanskrit text of the Mahisasaka Vinaya. Later an Indian
monk, Devadatta (Pei-da-duo) ,came to Korea with Kyomic where he
translated 72 books of the Vinaya under the patronage of the King Song
of Paekje.

From the early 8th century onwards, Korean Buddhists showed a keen
interest in India and Indian culture. The cultural bridge between the
two countries grew from then onwards, Buddhist monks being credited
for nurturing the relationship. Biographies of eminent monks of the
Tang Dynasty in China recorded the brief histories of some 56 pilgrims
who went to India. Among these was a Korean monk, A–nan-ya-bal-ma, who
stayed at the Nalanda Monastery, possibly, even dying there. Another
monk, Hye-op, also stayed in the Nalanda Monastery. One famous monk,
Hyon-t'ae, (Sarvajnadeva) went to India via China, Tibet and Nepal. He
went to Bodhgaya in Bihar and stayed near the Bodhi tree where the
Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment. In addition, Hyon-gaki
(Parampujya) and Hsuan-chao also visited the Mahabodhi Monastery of
Bihar.

Hyeryun, or Prajnavarman, spent ten years in the Amaravati Monastery
studying Dharma. Going further east, he visited the nearby Tukhara
Samgharama situated in northern India. Tukhara was an important
location for Buddhist monks of Central Asia, China, Korea and India.
Hyeryun studied Sanskrit in this monastery, becoming a famous monk in
Korea. Buddhism was thus the vehicle for monks of both nations for
promoting cultural ties.

Taebom and Hyech'o were another two monks who returned to China after
visiting India, making major contributions to the development of
Buddhism there. Hyech'o first traveled to the Nicobar Islands in the
Bay of Bengal before moving on to eastern India. He visited many
places in India, including Nalanda, Bodhgaya, Kusinagar, to show his
respect for the Buddha. In the 8th century A.D. he returned to China
via Samarkant, Turkestan and Kucha. He studied esoteric Buddhism under
the guidance of the famous master Vajra-bodhi of India.

At that time Buddhism flourished all over Korea, receiving the
patronage of the state. The saga of Indo-Korean contacts commenced at
the beginning of the Christian era and attained maturity during the
11th and 12th centuries A.D.

In a world of malice and distrust, with many nations unprepared to
accept the mere existence of another, these two Asian nations should
work for mutual understanding to further cooperation by drawing on
deep cultural roots. We can draw our inspiration and strength from
Buddhism.

URL: http://times.hankooki.com/cgi-bin/hkiprn.cgi?pa=/lpage/nation/
200410/kt2004100518562811950.htm&ur=times.hankooki.com&fo=print_kt.htm