한양도성의 중심점 원각사의 십층탑과 대종에 대한 土中 공간론과 佛天의 시공간학 코스몰로지

Abstract

This Study explores the symbolism of the Ten-tier Pagoda of Won’gaksa Temple, as part of the layout survey of the capital city Hanyang. First, the temple’s location, shown in the map centrally located initially as King Sejo’s memorial temple, is noted as an indication of the core earth worldview. Accordingly the ten-story pagoda signifies the number ten as all directions of the world thus to realize the three-dimensional space theory of Buddhism. Furthermore, the complexity of this architecture is noted with the theory of 33 horizontal heavens and 28 heavens in the three vertical realms, thus to realize the myth of central axis of universe centered in Mt. Sumi and Buddhist king of the gods. Historically the Great Bell of Wongaksa Temple (1465) had been neglected due to flourishing Neo-Confucianism until after the Japanese invasion (1592). King Seonjo moved the bell to the South Gate to replace the destroyed time-signal bell in the belfry (1594). King Gwanghae later moved the bell to the newly-built belfry, Jong’gak (1619). Since then it rang for 300 years announcing time twice a day in the morning and evening. At the end of Joseon, King Gojong reconstructed the belfry and renamed it Bosingak (1895). Thus the bell has since been called Bosingak Bell, and is now located in the National Museum of Korea. The last stroke of the bell was at New Year’s Eve 1985. The record thus shows the Great Bell kept breathing through history for 521 years (1465-1985), from King Sejo till modern Korea. The Great Time-Signal Bell gave off 33 and 28 strokes each day at morning break and at curfew from the beginning of the dynasty. This indicates that the myth of Buddhist cosmology of space and time theory had been vividly kept alive in the society. The propagation of Buddhist bell sound in the Confucian society however appears to be cultural irony. No new time-signal bell was molded in late joseon, while the two Great Bells of Wongaksa and Heungcheonsa were reused. It came to conclude that King Sejo’s pursuit of the Buddhist cosmology of time and space had been passed on guarding Joseon sky throughout the dynasty history.