黃壽永博士의 塔婆연구

Abstract

Dr. Chowu Hang Su-Yeong(hereinafter called “Chowu”) is a pupil of the first Korean art historian, Wuhyun Koh Yoo-seob and is a pioneer who blazed a trail in the field of Korean Buddhist art history. His Buddhist art study has begun with publishing three books of 『Study of Joseon Stupa』 based on the posthumous work of his mentor Wuhyun. Those definitions, terms, concepts of stupa style being used up to date were derived from these books and were transmitted as a legacy for junior scholars. Since Dr. Wuhuyn’s study on stupa was already well-organized from outline to details, Chowu consciously tried not to go in for the study of stupa. However, when thinking about the fact his most significant work during his life was organizing and publishing the posthumous work of his mentor Wuhyun, it is hard to deny that Chowu’s study on Korean Buddhist art history has started with stupa. Furthermore, considering that his last research was Neungji pagoda in Mt. Nansan, it is enough to identify him as a stupa researcher. The most representative work of his disquisitions related to stupa is 「Sahyeonsaji Five-story Stone Stupa in Hongjedong」. This reveals the history of the temple where the five-story stone stupa belonged to with related records including the stylistic consideration of the stupa in detail. Therefore, this work has been an important reference not only for stupa study but also for study of Buddhist temples. Although Chowu dedicated his life to carrying over Dr. Wuhyun’s theory and widely disseminating it, when a possibility for a different interpretation arose due the advent of newly found relic such as the Sarira Reliquary in the pagoda of Gameunsaj temple, he daringly expressed a new point of view. About the style of Dabotap stupa, he said that the shape of it is similar to <Four-lions Three-story Stone Stupa in Hwaeom-sa Temple> while claiming that is a previous style of octagonal monk-stupa. Even though the result of style analysis was different, in terms of methodology, he still followed the style-focused objective research method by Dr. Wuhyun. Besides, the only stupa that Chowu disagreed with Dr. Wuhyun’s argument and estimation of the year was the Wanggung-ri Five-story Stone Stupa in the Iksan. Dr. Wuhyun estimated that this pagoda was built in the 7th century but Chowu estimated it as a 10th century work. There were a overwhelming amount of new references bursting out in 1960 when he was in charge of excavation, dismantlement and repair of cultural assets. The fact that he brought up a new opinion against existing theory as a person who had profound knowledge of relics shows how hard he studied and analyzed the relics. Sometimes he presented a different point of view from his mentor but he always had his mentor’s theory in his mind while not limiting himself in studying further. Indeed, Chowu’s study is considered valuable as he further developed the stupa study of Dr. Wuhyun on the strength of the newly found references.