In the period of Late Koryo and Early Chosun Gong-Yeok monks had so well organized along with the excellent skills that they could take part in the construction of government offices or Buddhist temples. It was Gong-Yeok monks who had been compelled to take charge of miscellaneous services in temple, to produce goods for monk's ascetic exercises, and to mend and make the Buddhist souvenirs. So, they had been subdivided into Sa-Yeok monk(사역승), Gongjang monk(공장승), and Seungjang(승장), and conducted subjectively their religious activities. Therefore, they could have laid groundwork for raising their skills and capacities for organization.
Because of their specialized system centering around the construction technology and frequent Buddhist affairs in temple since Early Koryo, they could work artisan work continuously. Temple of Koryo had played not only a role in Buddhist's proper activity also in political mission charged from Royal Court. So, Temples had no choice but to concentrate on efforts to perform them. Accordingly, craftsmen from government-led handicraft field(관청수공업장) could participate in manufacturing the Buddhist goods or the temple-led handicraft products (사원수공업품). The artisan from administration had an effect on the advance of production and technique of temple-led handicraft in late Koryo.
The contribution of craftsmen under the control of government to the temple-led handicraft and construction activities of Gong-Yeok monks in various Buddhist affairs had continued at the period of upheaval, and the temple could accumulate material resources. And It is suggested that at early Chosun the continuous concerns of Court for Buddhism made it possible to work for Buddhist affairs including the building or remodeling the temple.
We can examine various aspects of Buddhist policy in the early Chosun by Court Buddhist affairs. Gong-Yeok monks who had been an obligation to be mobilized at the construction of castles or Buddhist affairs had possessed skills for buildings or public works.
This article is to illuminate the positive construction activities of Gong-Yeok monks, and to examine their function and position in the Koryo Sa(『고려사』) and the Chosun Wangjo Sil Rck(『조선왕조실록』). For this, most of all I investigate the conditions and distinguishing marks of construction activity of Gong-Yeok monks in late Koryo. And then, I analyze their activities and Court's recognition in early Chosun in the course of building of the temple. Finally, I reexamine the historical reason why they had been mobilized at the construction of castle or Buddhist affairs at early Chosun.
I think it is worthy of notice that Gong-Yeok monk's activity had been based on the skills and capacities for organization since early Koryo, and despite of the oppressive policy to the Buddhism at early Chosun they could keep their function and position.