Abstract: This paper analyzes the perception on the roles of female clerics and sexual minorities in Won Buddhism. In particular, this study focuses on the areas of disagreement between the organizational leadership and members of Won Buddhism, which was ignited by the failed attempt to revise the religion’s statutes on the 100th anniversary of its foundation. The sections in this paper reflect the most controversial issues that have been raised by believers. One of the issues that believers have felt most strongly about is that of the so-called “silenced minority.” These are the female partners of male clerics, whose status within Won Buddhism was not even on the agenda of the Revision Committee. This paper utilizes qualitative research analysis and participatory observation as its methodologies. The total number of interviewees is twenty-five, including clerics, lay members, and staff of Won Buddhist institutions. While the interviews were conducted in an unstructured method, I carefully selected the interviewees to reflect diverse perspectives on the issue. The answer to my initial hypothesis that the pressure for change from overseas missionary work will influence the national organization turned out to be negative. However, it seems clear that the practical problems overseas temples face in the field present a useful direction for change in the national organization. To the question why the Revision Committee had to stop in the midst of its operations, the majority answered that the organization was not ready for change. Most people thought that any change in the problematic rules would be possible only around the year 2023 (Wŏn-gi 108) when a new patriarch (chongpŏpsa) starts his term or the third generation of Won Buddhism begins. In conclusion, the relative autonomy and reasonable management system of the overseas ministry has limited influence on changing the perspectives of the national members. For a major change in Won Buddhism, however, the rules and systems fundamental to the organizational operation should change first through the active persuasion of those members with vested rights.

中文翻译：

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当代佛教中的性别问题：关注女性神职人员的地位

摘要：本文分析了对女性神职人员和性少数群体在元佛教中的角色的看法。特别是，本研究重点关注元佛教组织领导与成员之间的分歧领域，这是由在其成立 100 周年之际试图修改宗教章程失败而引发的。本文中的部分反映了信徒提出的最具争议的问题。信徒们感受最强烈的问题之一是所谓的“沉默的少数”。这些是男性神职人员的女性伴侣，她们在元佛教中的地位甚至不在修订委员会的议程上。本文采用定性研究分析和参与式观察作为其方法。受访者总数为二十五人，包括神职人员、居士和 Won 佛教机构的工作人员。虽然采访是以非结构化的方式进行的，但我精心挑选了受访者，以反映对这个问题的不同观点。我最初的假设是海外传教工作带来的变革压力会影响国家组织，结果证明是否定的。然而，海外寺庙在该领域面临的实际问题似乎很明显为国家组织的变革提供了有益的方向。对于修订委员会为何必须在其运作中途停止的问题，大多数人回答说该组织还没有准备好进行变革。大多数人认为，只有在 2023 年 (Wŏn-gi 108) 左右，当新的族长 (chongpŏpsa) 开始他的任期或第三代 Won 佛教开始时，才有可能改变有问题的规则。综上所述，外交部相对自主和合理的管理体制对改变国家成员观念的影响有限。然而，对于元佛教的重大变革，组织运作的基本规则和制度首先应该通过那些拥有既得权利的成员的积极劝说而改变。