초기 불상의 의례적 기능과 항마촉지인 예배상의 등장 -공양 대상으로서의 불상의 기능을 중심으로-

Abstract

In the Buddhist art of Kushan period, the Bhumisparsha mudra was available only in a narrative image but not in a detached Buddha statue. This fact has attracted attention as a peculiar phenomenon. It is presumed that there must be a certain reason why any detached Bhumisparsha mudra statue was not produced at that period even this mudra was apparently established in the field of narrative art. This thesis tried to suggest that it was caused because the original purpose of Buddha statue was to receive the offering of common sorts instead of living Buddha himself. For the first time, this function was belonged to Stupa. But as time goes by, the Buddha statue succeeded this important role. In this point of view, the mudra of many detached Buddha statues in Kushan period, for example Dhyana mudra, Abhaya mudra and clasp a meal bawl are concernd with offering. These mudra could be seen to common sorts before, during or after they offer a meal when Sakyamuni stayed in the earth. Sakyamuni’s periods, peoples bring meals when Sakyamuni was meditating in the forest(Dhyana mudra), or was doing mendicancy in a village(mudra of clasp a meal bawl). And they can listen to Buddha’s preaching as a repay of their offering(Abhaya mudra). But Bhumisparsha mudra was not concerned with offering. When Sakyamuni defeat demons in Bodhgayā forest, people couldn’t approach to him for offering and no one could witness that scene. So a statue of this mudra was useless for offering to peoples. But after the Gupta period, as the function of Buddha statues were extended from an object of common sort’s offering to a subsidiary to monk’s meditation, Bhumisparsha mudra buddha statues were appeared in common. This mudra becomes a symbol of enlightenment which were spiritual goal of all buddhist monks. Further more, Bodhgayā, the first representative temple of Bhumisparsha mudra becomes an object of the most envy place for world wide buddhist monks, this icon spreaded to all over the world.