청양 장곡사 금동약사여래좌상의 발원문 분석

Abstract

This article reviews the Bhaisajyaguru belief of the late Goryeo period through newly examining the dedicatory prayer of the gilt-bronze seated Bhaisajyaguru statue in Janggoksa temple in Cheongyang. The construction of the gilt-bronze seated Bhaisajyaguru statue at Janggoksa temple is a rare case in the late Goryeo period. This is because most of the Buddha statues during that period were Amitabha Buddha. Also, it can be confirmed that the construction of the Bhaisajyaguru statue in the late Goryeo period took place mainly in Chungcheong-do. This indicates that Janggoksa is an important temple in understanding the history of Buddhism in Chungcheong-do during the Goryeo Dynasty. The gilt-bronze seated Bhaisajyaguru statue in Janggoksa temple demonstrates the Bhaiṣajyaguru belief which is characterized by both seeking profit in the present world and orientation towards afterlife. Although the nature of this profit-seeking orientation includes desire of health(curing diseases) and longevity, its primary pursuit was to cease the political turmoil of the Goryeo period so that the stability of the people’s livelihood can be achieved. In other words, it seems that the people hoped for a new change in Goryeo society during the reign of King Chungmok through creation of the seated Bhaisajyaguru statue. The afterlife-oriented nature can be easily observed in that the Bhaiṣajyaguru‘s pure land is closely related to the Amitabha's pure land and that they are complementary to each other. It was intended to emphasize that believers can approach the Bhaiṣajyaguru‘s pure land as well as the Amitabha’s pure land through the Bhaiṣajyaguru Belief. On the other hand, there has been a change in the theory of women achieving the Buddha-hood. A new notion that women can achieve the Buddha-hood with a female body has emerged replacing the old concept that a woman need to become a man before accomplishing the Buddha-hood. Such concept is thought to have had a significant impact on the collective participation of women in the construction of the gilt-bronze seated Bhaisajyaguru statue of Janggoksa temple.