화엄사 4사자석탑 앞 석등 연구

Abstract

It has been noticed for a long time that the stone lantern making the gyejwa(跪坐)(kneeling posture) priest statue as Ganjuseok(間柱石)(middle support stone of the stone lantern) in front of 4-Lion Stone Pagoda in Hwaeomsa(華嚴寺), Mt. Jiri has stood facing the standing priest statue at the center of stone foundation platform. The gyejwa posture priest statue carries a gimul(hand grabbed object) in his left hand and carries a lantern on his head. Then, where has the style of the gyejwa posture priest statue which carries a lantern on his head has originated? If it is the prototype of the style, what is the graphic basis of the jimul in the hand and the lantern on the head?Meantime, one theory has been presented to see the standing priest statue on the foundation platform and the priest statue as a formative object expressing foundation story of Yeongijosa (緣起祖師 創建說話) based on the records of Chugangjip 『秋江集』. Other theories assume that the priest statue of 4-Lion Stone Pagoda as Sajabinsinbiguni(獅子頻迅比丘尼) showing up in 『Hwaeomgyeon g』 『華嚴經』 or the priest statue of the stone lantern as Seonjaedongja(善財童子)(St. Sudhana). A gyejwa posture priest statue appears not only Korea but also China and Japan. The kneeling of Useulchakji(右膝着地)(putting right knee on the ground) is an Indian courtesy and it was prevailing East Asian nations' ancient Buddhist arts. Kneeling itself can be construed as offering posture and the motif of the offering statue is thought to be originated from the kneeling of Useulchakji. Jimul of the offering statue can be assumed as a lidded censer in a boju(寶珠)type, even thought some assumes as a tea cup or Bogi(寶器)(treasury bowl). The offering statue appeared also in China and Japan. However, the statue carrying a lantern and censer on the head and having jimul in his hand is the originative sculpture of the Unified Silla which can not be found any other countries. According to the scriptures of Daebanyeolbangyeong(『大般涅槃經』), the action of carrying something on the head means supreme offering to the reverend object. Jeongdae lantern offering (‘頂戴燈供養’) carrying a lentern on the head is also appeared in the scriptures. According to 『Bihwagyeong』 (『悲華經』), Mujeongnyeomwang(無諍念王) carried one lantern on the head and offered to Bojangyeorae (‘寶藏如來’). Also, 『Daebojeokgyeong』(『大寶積經』) says that offering to Buddha carrying lantern on one's head cleans out obstacles. Jeungilahamgyeong(『增一阿含經』) says that one old Buddhist nun finally reaches Deungwangyeorae(‘燈光如來’) after extreme lantern offering to to Bojangyeorae Jeonryunseongwang(轉輪聖王) in 『Bihwagyeong』, bosal in 『Daebojeokgyeong』 and old Buddhist nun in 『Jeungilahamgyeong』 are offering to Buddha carrying lantern on one's head. What is noted at those cases is that the stone lantern in Hwaeomsa is the Buddist sculpture which shows the meaning of saving the people by removing evils and becoming a Buddha through a lantern offering to Yeorae(如來) or Pagoda. A offering statue carrying a lantern on the head and having jimul in he hand was firstly tried in the stone lantern in Hwaeomsa which influenced on the stone lantern, Geumja ngamji(金藏巖址), Mt. Geumgang. It can be concluded that it pursued the new style of stone lantern in the Buddhist art of Korea.