순천 선암사 금동관음보살좌상의 제작 시기에 관한 연구

Abstract

In China, after the acceptance of Tibetan esoteric Buddhism, also known as Lamaism, during the Yuan Dynasty, the production of distinctive Buddhist sculptures with unique Tibetan-style art began. In Korea, Tibetan-style Buddhist statues emerged during the Late Goryeo Dynasty, originating from Buddhist activities supported by either the royal court or pro-Yuan factions. Traditionally, scholars classify these statues as Late Goryeo creations influenced by the Yuan Dynasty, closely associated with the spread of Lamaism. However, a closer examination of Chinese Buddhist statue production reveals that this trend persisted beyond the Yuan Dynasty, extending into the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Particularly during the Ming Dynasty, such Tibetan-style Buddhist statues were consistently crafted and featured prominently in imperial collections. Consequently, some scholars propose the notion that the Tibetan-style Gilt-bronze Buddhist statues in Korea may actually date back to the Early Joseon Dynasty, influenced by Ming Dynasty Buddhist sculpture. Aligned with this scholarly perspective, this article aims to scrutinize the style of the Gilt-Bronze Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva at Seonamsa Temple and juxtapose it with the attributes of Tibetan-style Buddha statues from the Yuan and Ming dynasties in China, in order to reassess its probable production date. In 1988, during the renovation of the Thousand Buddha Hall at Seonamsa Temple, a Gilt-Bronze Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva was discovered hidden in the upper rafters. Initially examined in 1992, it was naturally dated as a Tibetan-style bodhisattva from the Yuan Dynasty due to its distinctive features such as the jeweled crown, facial expression, intricate ornaments, and throne design. It was assumed that the statue must have been crafted in response to cultural exchanges with the Yuan Dynasty during the Late Goryeo Dynasty. However, when comparing the style of the Seonamsa Bodhisattva statue with the Tibetan-influenced styles from China’s Yuan and Ming dynasties, it not only reflects the characteristics of Ming dynasty Yongle and Xuande period statues but also combines traditional elements with features of the Tibetan style from the Yuan dynasty. This indicates that the Tibetan Buddhist art style, adopted during the Late Goryeo period, continued to influence Early Joseon Buddhist art through the Ming dynasty. As a result, it is presumed that the gilt-bronze Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue at Seonamsa was produced in 15th-century Joseon, following the popularity of Yongle and Xuande period statues in the Ming dynasty.