성수신앙의 일환으로서 북두칠성의 신앙적 화현 양상

Abstract

Looking into relics related to the Big Dipper, one can perceive a link among "the holes representing constellations in dolmens (ancient Joseon), the paintings of the Big Dipper in ancient murals (Goguryeo and Goryeo), and the Big Dipper of mortuary planks containing seven holes representing the Big Dipper (since Joseon)." The Big Dipper is worshipped as a guide to another world at the cusp between this world and the other, reflecting the concept of "life-death-grave (the Big Dipper)-hope for immortality."Faith in the Big Dipper was just one of the many different constellation faiths institutionally worshipped since the time constellation faiths integrated around faith in the Big Dipper before the early Joseon. Judging from the "Offering Writing to the Big Dipper" used by believers during Buddhist services of the Big Dipper at Gwangheung Buddhist Temple in Andong, Gyeongbuk Province, it is estimated that faith in the Big Dipper waned following emergence of folk faith praying for eliminating disaster, prolonging life, avoiding misfortune, and promoting luck among individuals in the former half of the Joseon at the latest. In Korean folk customs, there are very diverse religious manifestations of the Big Dipper, which can be categorized into narrative, iconic, and ritual patterns. The major elements of faith in the Big Dipper in the narrative pattern include the Big Dipper puri and the Big Dipper bonpuri, The iconic pattern is usually found in the gut instruments used by female shamans and also in the Big Dipper painting enshrined in the Big Dipper tower and the chilseongpan (the bottom lining board of a coffin) containing seven holes representing the Big Dipper in line with the paintings of the Big Dipper in dolmens and ancient murals. The ritual pattern takes realistic and diverse forms according to the transmission areas and informants. The Big Dipper as an object of faith is regarded as a god that controls the production of offspring and human life, along with property and talent; a god that gives rain to the earth; and the star of bonmyeongseong that controls human destiny according to the 12 zodiacal signs under which one was born. There is also a need to explore clues for the new perception of correlations among the Andong area, the Big Dipper, and faith in the Big Dipper when considering the relics of the yut board and the custom of yut play.