신라 왕릉 조각의 미술사적 조망과 특수성

Abstract

This article is regarding stone figures of king attendants, the twelve figures of Zodiac animals, and lion figures left in 10 royal tombs of Silla. It is not an easy job to study sculptures in royal tombs in Silla, since the construction times of any of 10 tombs has not been known. In spite of such difficulties, this article reviewed the trace of royal tomb sculptures from Seongdeokwangreung to Oryurireung, and the distinct characteristics of royal tomb sculptures in Silla based on research results. Although sculptures in royal tombs of Silla started under the influence of Tang dynasty, there are substantial differences between royal tombs in Tang. The biggest difference is the twelve figures of Zodiac animals. There is no other tomb in East Asia than royal tombs in Silla that has the twelve figures of Zodiac animals on Hoseok(護石) of the tomb. Most of them have small sized terracotta figures of Zodiac animals or have wall picture describing Zodiac animals instead. It is natural to bury figures of Zodiac animals controlling directions and time and symbolizing the eternity of time but royal tombs in Silla took those Zodiac animals out of the tomb and made them protect the royal tomb by letting them wear armor or hold weapons in their hands. It can be understood in the context that various figures in armors are placed on the body of Buddhist tower to protect small crystals found among cremated remains of monks. Additionally, twelve figures in royal tombs of Silla are all standing figures and unexceptionally have beast head and human body. Stone figures of king attendants and lion figures in front of royal tombs were not much different from Deva King figures or lion figures on Buddhist pagoda in the contemporary times, from which we can infer that sculptures in royal tombs in Silla should be considered together with Buddhist sculptures. In the sculpture history in Korea in the middle of which there are Buddhist sculpture studies, studies on royal tomb sculptures in Silla are very important. Royal tomb sculptures in Silla not only provide clues to fill the gaps in studies on Buddhist sculptures in Silla but also are representative art works showing distinctive characteristics of art in Silla.