굴산사지 석조부도의 주인공과 미술사적 의의

Abstract

It is to be acknowledged that Gulsan temple site in Gangneung is the place where a Buddhist monastery is situated in the vicinity of Gangneung city. Even though the details of temple property have not been uncovered until now, Gulsan temple was one of the considerably large temples. And it is assumed that this temple has been playing the role of core-monastery in the vicinity so far as the Buddhist tradition is maintained. Presently,as the representative relics indicating the chronology of Gulsan temple, there is stone stupa and stone-built Borona Buddhist image. The stone stupa which is believed to be preserving the cremated remains of Tonghyo Bumil, the great master of Buddhism(January 10, 810 ~ May 1, 889) who had let Gulsan temple flourish as the core -monastery among all temples- are not only relics representing the prestige of the temple but valuable academic data silently delivering the temple's history. According to 『Samkukyusa』, Gulsan temple is known to have been constructed around the year of 851 during the latter period of Silla Kingdom. Anyway, it seems that Gulsan temple-together with Naksan temple, Jinjeon temple, Seonrimwon at Yangyang,and Bohyun temple at Gangneung -had maintained the Buddhist tradition until Goryo dynasty as the central monastery in Gangneung as well as Youngdong area. Anyway, it is known the Gulsan temple site where stone stupa is situated the prestige as a large monastery in Gangwon area from the latter days of Silla Kingdom to the early days of Goryo dynasty. The representative relics which display history and status of the Gulsan temple are flag pillars and stone stupa. Further, the disposition of stone stupa indicates the vastness of the temple site. The owner of the stone stupa at Gulsan temple site is likely to be Tonghyo. Bumil, the great master of Buddhism, when the contemporary customs of those days, except special cases, featuring construction of one monument at one Sarira pagoda for one monk at one temple and his achievements are taken into consideration. Moreover, it is told that Gaecheong lamented the stoppage of Tonghyo's academic theories and missed his teacher a lot while wearing a black hempen hood on his head. Considering the written records about the facts that they renovated Tonghyo Bumil's sarira pagoda(funerary stupa) in the 3rd year of Queen Jinseong(889) and also built a that stone stupa at Gulsan temple site was designed for Tonghyo Bumil. The Gulsan temple site is the representative vestige of Youngdong culture encompassing Gangneung and Youngdon area from Silla to Goryo period. The date of closing temple, however, is not yet ascertained specifically. Accordingly, the history and prestige pertaining go Gulsan temple site as well as its property will have to be validated through further elaborate excavations and examinations.