구병시식(救病施食)의 전승기반과 현장론적 이해

Abstract

The Gubyeong-Sisik is a ritual for healing those suffering from unexplained illnesses, and is based on the premise that the illness is caused by ghosts(Chaekju ghost) that harm humans. Therefore, it is a ritual to teach Buddhist truth, give food, and send it to a good place. Aspects of the ritual that are passed down in the field include. First, the Gubyeong-Sisik is a stand-alone ritual, but it is often performed in conjunction with a Guardian Deities prayer, as it is believed to have the power to protect sentient beings and ward off evil spirits. And the combination of the ‘Jowang prayer and Gubyeong- Sisik’ also shows that the God Jowang, who deals with life and health, was also the target of healing prayers. Secondly, the time and space in which Gubyeong-Sisik is per formed is more robust in terms of the principles of ‘after sunset’ and ‘a third space other than the temple’ compared to other Sisiks. This is because it has a strong healing purpose, giving great sig nificance to traditional notions of space and time. We can also see that the installation of Magudan, which is an exception in Sisik, is a device that exorcises ghosts. Third, in the case of the patient as a ritual subject, the two aspects of participation and non-participation coexist. When pa tients are encouraged to participate, they believe that their in volvement helps Cheondo by making the ghosts listen to the truth. On the other hand, we don't want patients to be present because we believe it can be distracting and damaging. In contrast, temples that do not want patients to participate are considered distracting and damaging. Fourth, in addition to compassion for Cheondo, we can exam ine the dual structure of separation and exclusion. This is the case with universal practices such as sprinkling red beans, putting out fires, and calling a horse. At the same time, there is a distinct as pect of individual adoption of folkloric elements that reinforces the function of ostracism. These characteristics can be described as a ‘compassionate and wise exclusion,’ as it makes the ghosts aware of the world they are in and returns the living to a healthy routine. In addition, Gubyeong-Sisik's close contact with folk beliefs suggests that it has embraced many folkloric elements while maintaining the under lying meaning and procedures of the ritual.