불탑 숭배와 법화경 신앙

Abstract

“The Lotus Sūtra” has been distributed to many different regions since its creation. Even today, it is one of the scriptures that are most read, written, and prayed by. The scripture itself is very devotional as it is the essential scripture in “making Buddha statues and stupas.” There is no denying that “The Lotus Sūtra” is one of the important elements in the faith of Buddhism based on stupas and offerings. There is, however, a need to review it more closely since some sects have the practice of stupa offering. This study set out to investigate stupa faith in “The Lotus Sūtra” based on its forms and spreading processes described in the scripture by looking into concerned books and materials. The focus should be on what kind of faith form “The Lotus Sūtra” got to develop after its origin in India and what transformation it underwent via the Silk Road and China. The areas of Silk Road were examined in Han Ji-yeon’s “Elements of Lotus Sūtra Faith in the Formation of Faith in Northwestern India - Countries Bordering on Western China,” “Establishment of The Lotus Sūtra World in East Asia” and “History of Exchanges in Buddhism in Countries Bordering on Western China.” The study consulted Choi Eun-yeong’s “Research and Faith Forms of The Lotus Sūtra in Early History of Buddhism in China” and Mun Mu-wang’s “Characteristics of Lotus Sūtra Faith in Early Buddhist Caves of China” to examine the early Lotus Sūtra faith of China. The Lotus Sūtra Faith has deep roots. It is almost impossible to sort out its history in a single paper. There is basic devotion connoted in the roots of “The Lotus Sūtra.” The papers examined above can be arranged in several points: First, although it is difficult to estimate the beginning of “The Lotus Sūtra,” the process of Saṅgīti and addition gave birth to a scripture in a form of strong religious Buddhism. Second, Kucha played important roles in the spreading process of “The Lotus Sūtra,” and Maitreya faith is in its form. Third, “The Lotus Sūtra” accepted in China made the core of religious Buddhism. And fourth, “The Lotus Sūtra” played critical roles in the formation process of Buddhist caves in the early days of Buddhism in China and carried out central roles until the vogue of Amita faith.