영주 순흥 신라 벽화고분의 가치와 의의

Abstract

Sunheung Eupnae-ri Mural Tomb and Eosukjisulgan (於宿知述干) Tomb at Yeongju were all found within Silla territory during the Three Kingdoms Period. That tomb murals which were not produced in the central Silla were made in the border regions intrigue much interest. Sunheung served as a strategic point south of Jukryeong, where Silla bordered Koguryo. Silla’s Maripgan (麻立干) patrolled Sunheung regions in order to give some autonomy to regional powers in exchange of their services in border security. Koguryo and Baekjae’s monks seem to have began missionary work in early 5th century at the latest in outskirts of Silla. Mukhoja (墨胡子) and Ado (阿道) are among such missionaries. However, until the first half of the 6th century, Buddhism did not gain national support in Silla. The regional aristocrats who practiced Buddhism likely could not declare it publicly until the early 6th century. The murals of Eupnae-ri Mural Tomb and Eosukjisulgan Tomb shows that the Buddhism that reached Sunheung had changed the views of afterlife by the 6th century. Some regional aristocrats desired rebirth in the Pure Land[Nirvana] as described in Buddhism and expressed such wishes in murals. The murals of Eupnae-ri Mural Tomb and Eosukjisulgan Tomb show the evidence of such ideas. The subject choice and painting style suggests that the painters of Eupnae-ri Mural Tomb painted the guardians, bird inside the Sun and the willow trees in a typical early 6th century methods. The lotus blossoms and celestial maidens in Eosukjisulgan Tomb date to late 6th century. Both tomb murals seem to have been painted certain period after the national endorsement of Buddhism in Silla.