북한 소재 고려시대 불교조각의 연구현황

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the major images and monuments of the Goryeo period in North Korea and to summarize the scholarly research from South Korea between 1980 and present. In doing so, we will focus on several important objects or monuments of the Goryeo period in North Korea, highlight the art-historical problems associated with them, and suggest a new direction for future studies of Goryeo Buddhist sculpture. Goryeo Buddhist sculptures of North Korea are categorized by their materials : stone Buddha and relief on stone pagodas, iron Buddha, and gilt-bronze Buddha. They are found mainly across three areas : in the Hwanghae province with Gaeseong(開城, Capital of Goryeo dynasty) at the center, in the Pyeongan province with Pyeongyang(平壤, West Capital of Goryeo Dynasty) at the center, and in the Gangwon Province with Mt. Keumgang(金剛山, sacred place of Avatamsaka Buddhism of Goryeo period) at the center. Buddhist images at Capital Gaeseong are connected in style and iconography to those in the Gyeonggi Province with Seoul(the North Capital of Goryeo dynasty) at the center. They also spread to Wonju(原州) of the Ganwon province and Chungju(忠州) of the Chungcheong province along the southern Han River. It is assumed from the geographic distribution of Buddhist sculptures in South and North Korea that the major monasteries serving as religious and administrative bases in Gaegseong(Capital), Pyeongyang(West Capital) and Seoul(South Capital) were related to the temples constructed along the land and river traffic routes. To carry out cultural exchanges between South and North Korea, the North Korean government temporarily allowed South Korean people to travel Mt. Keumgang and Gaeseong area on guided one-day tours(Gaeseong) or package tours(Mt. Keumgang). But it was not possible for scholars of South Korea to investigate images and monuments for their research. Unable to see real images at the major Buddhist temples of the Goryeo period, scholars used photographs published in the catalog and black and white negative films taken during the period of the Japanese occupation, for their research on Buddhist sculptures in North Korea. Despite these challenges, the research on the Buddhist sculptures in North Korea has played an important role in exploring many problems associated with Buddhist images and monuments of the Goryeo period.