담양 용화사 도월 수진의 불복장(佛腹藏) 작법 계승과 전승 활동

Abstract

The practice of bulbokjang refers to a ritual of inserting sacred objects inside inner recess of a Buddhist statue or a pouch produced for a Buddhist painting in order to consecrate them as objects of worship. This paper examines the ritual lineage and practice of Ven. Dowol Sujin, one of five members of the Preservation Society of Bulbokjang Practice, a National Intangible Cultural Property (Gukka muhyeong munhwajae bulbokjang japbeop bojonhoe). Ven. Sujin, who has resided at Yonghwasa in Damyang since 1974, learned the practice from Ven. Mukdam Seongu. While practicing bulbokjang ritual for various temples and monasteries, Ven. Sujin has taught his disciples how to perform the ritual properly ever since Ven. Mukdam Seongu passed away in 1981. His expertise has been widely acknowledged both domestically and internationally. He performed the ritual not only for domestic temples but also for those located in Japan, Brazil, and China. Ven. Sujin had endeavored to have the bulbokjang practice designated as a National Intangible Cultural Property from early on. His efforts were reported on the Beopbo Daily on July 2, 1994 and in May 1995 issue of Morning Calm, an in-flight magazine of Korean Air. In 1996 and 2006, he personally submitted an application for designating the bulbokjang as an intangible cultural property to the Cultural Heritage Administration. However, his application was rejected by the Cultural Heritage Administration at that time due to its lack of understanding. Nevertheless, he continued his efforts by establishing the Preservation Society for Traditional Bulbokjang Ritual of Korean Buddhism (Hanguk bulgyo jeontong bulbokjang uisik bojonhoe) in 2009 and by performing public demonstration of the ritual in 2010. Ven. Sujin’s efforts to designate the bulbokjang practice as a National Intangible Cultural Property arose an echo across Korean Buddhist orders. Ven. Sujin and other bulbokjang masters including Vens. Mugwan, Seongo, Doseong, and Gyeongam established the Preservation Society of Bulbokjang Practice, a National Intangible Cultural Property. The Society submitted an application to the Cultural Heritagle Administration, and the bulbokjang was designated as the National Intangible Cultural Property No. 139 in April 2019. The bulbokjang practice of Ven. Sujin has been transmitted to his disciple Ven. Jiyeong.