한국 불교는 신라시대 말경 선종불교 수용 이후에 지방화하였다. 고려시대 불교는 대중화되어 갔고, 조선시대 불교는 민속신앙으로 변화하였다. 불교민속신앙은 조선후기에 민중의식의 성장과 더불어 성행하였다. 고려시대에는 사찰에서 백성들의 종교적 욕구를 수용하면서 민속불교가 성행하였고, 조선전기에는 불교를 억제하여 불교민속화 과정을 밟았다. 그러나 조선후기에 민중문화가 발달하면서 기복신앙의 불교민속이 성행하였다. 불교민속은 불교가 민간신앙으로 정착한 신앙형태를 말한다. 11세기경 대참사, 선운사는 관음도량이었다면, 11세기 중엽 선운산 마애불이 조성된 이후에는 미륵·지장도량으로 변모하였다. 선운사의 관음도량은 석주설화, 선운사 영산전의 觀音海難救濟 벽화, 대웅보전 백의관음보살 벽화, 검단선사와 黔堂浦, 煮鹽 전설이 사례가 될 수 있다. 彌勒·地藏道場은 高敞邑城의 성밟기민속, 고창읍 오거리 조형입석, 마을미륵과 입석미륵, 天龍堂山祭 등이 사례가 될 수 있다. 고창지역 불교민속은 고려시대 선운사, 도솔암 마애불 등 선운도량의 민속불교가 확산되면서 민간신앙화 한 것이다. 따라서 고창지역 불교민속신앙에서는 고려시대 밀교신앙적인 전승 요소를 발견할 수 있다.

Korean Buddhism was localized after the adoption of Zen Buddhism at the end of the Silla period. Buddhism in the Goryeo Dynasty became popular, and Buddhism in the Joseon Dynasty changed into a folk religion.Buddhist folk belief flourished along with the growth of popular consciousness in the late Joseon Dynasty. During the Goryeo Dynasty, folk Buddhism flourished while accommodating the religious needs of the people. Also, in the first half of the Joseon Dynasty, Buddhism was controlled and the process of making it a Buddhist folklore was carried out. However, with the development of folk culture in the late Joseon Dynasty, Buddhist folklore of the belief in ups and downs flourished. Buddhist folklore refers to the form of belief in which Buddhism has been established as a folk belief.In the 11th century, Seonunsa Temple was a Gwaneumdoryang, but after the Maaebul of Seonunsan Mountain was built in the middle of the 11th century, it was transformed into Mireuk and Jijangdoryang. Examples of the Gwaneumdoryang of Seonunsa Temple and the legend of Seokju(石舟), the mural of Gwaneumhaenanguje(觀音海難救濟) Yeongsanjeon and Daeungbojeon Baekui Guanyin Bodhisattva mural of Seonunsa Temple, and the legend of Seonunsa Geomdan monk and Geomdangpo(黔堂浦) and legend of Jayeom(煮鹽). Examples of Mireuk and Jijang Doryang(彌勒地藏道 場) include Seongbapgi folklore of Gochang-eupseong(高敞邑城), Gochang-eup five-geori sculptural standing stone, village Maitreya and Ipseok Maitreya, and Cheonryongdangsanje(天龍堂山祭). The Buddhist folklore of the Gochang area was converted into a folk religion as folk Buddhism of Seonun-do-ryang such as Seonunsa Temple, Dosolam Maaebul spread during the Goryeo Dynasty. Therefore, in the Buddhist folk beliefs of the Gochang region, elements of Esoteric Buddhism(密敎) from the Goryeo period can be found.