This is a survey of literature in Korean composed to propagate Buddhism and of other Korean vernacular literature that offers insights in the ways Buddhism functioned in Korean society over the ages, from the 7th to the 21st century.

When the three ancient Korean states of Koguryŏ (高句麗), Paekche (百濟), and Silla (新羅) adopted elements of Chinese culture, the Chinese writing system and sinified B…