팔공산 관봉 석조여래좌상의 양식 특징과 조성 배경 - 통일신라기 五岳信仰과 관련하여

Abstract

This study dated the time at the first half of the 9th century when the stone seated Buddha image on Gwanbong Peak of Mt. Palgongsan in Gyeongsan-gun Gyeongsangbuk-do was made, inquiring into its style. Furthermore, this study showed that the Budda image is a seated Buddha image in the Bhumisparsa- mudra(降魔觸地印), unlike what was known as a Buddha image holding a small medicine bottle before. In particular, this study closely examined the background of the Buddhist image being located at the top of Mt. Palgongsan. Considering Mt. Palgongsan was one of the Five Great Mountains(五岳) where a class of national memorial ceremonies, Joongsa(中祀), was hold during the Silla Dynasty according to the article on memorial ceremonies(祭祀條) in volume 32 of the Chronicles of the Three States(『三國史記』), the Buddha image was assumed to be made when the traditional memorial ceremonies for the five holy mountains was changed into a Buddhist ritual. This is critical in examining the religious background of Buddhist images located on mountaintops in Korea. In other words, the Buddhist images were formed when the altars of memorial ceremonies for holy mountains were integrated into Buddhist temple sites, which means that as Buddhism widely spread, the national security was prayed for in Buddha's dignity and enlightenment, not only in the traditional memorial ceremonies for holy mountains. For example, Buddha Triads on a cliff at Mt. Seondosan in Gyeongju-si make it certain that the Buddhist tradition had already begun during the Three Kingdoms Period before worshipping the holy Five Great Mountains. However, the Buddha images of Buseoksa Temple or Seokguram Temple are considered to have had a profound influence on placing the seated Buddha images in the Bhumisparsa-mudra on mountaintops after the Unified Silla Period. Especially, it seems that the Buddha image on Gwanbong Peak of Mt. Palgongsan was strongly influenced by the main Buddha of Seokguram Temple and a kind of baldachin on the head established its own distinctive figure. Thus, it is assumed that the Buddha of Gwanbong Peak showed a blended basic figure of traditional mountain worshipping and Buddhism and revived a tradition the general public kept in mind at the present day. Mountain worship has a shamanistic aspect in curing, praying for rain, worshipping the dragon king of the sea, which returned to Buddhism and led to Buddhist ceremonies worshipping Medicine Buddha for curing illnesses.