불복장의 오방색 연구

Abstract

The enshrined deposits sealed in Buddhist statues during the dedication rites were made in accordance with the five directions on the basis of the yin/yang and the five elements paradigm. The Huryeongtong is the main content, and is a case that contains Obobyeong. Obobyeong is a kind of wrapping clothes that symbolizes the Five Directions. Objects indicating different directions are put inside each Obobyeong. Among them, vajra, ritual flag, canopies, and aromatic leaf from Bo tree used five-colored textiles or paper. This study will help enhance the reader’s understanding of the five directional colors, and the differences within the ranges of the five colors in different periods. The colors we found were as follows. East: blue, the pure color representing the east. We also found light-blue, green, and bluish-green. South: red, the pure color representing the south. We also found scarlet, and in the Sudeok temple deposit, light violet. West: white, the pure color representing the west. We also found light yellow. North: pure black, the pure color representing the north, was found only in the Buddhist image at the Haein temple. Generally, we found a bluish or purplish black. Purple was used in the deposit in the main Buddha image at the Samgil temple. Center: Pure yellow, the pure color representing the center, was found in the deposit at the royal Haein temple. Usually the deposited textiles indicating the center were shades of yellow; however, there were some exceptions. Some textiles indicating the center included textiles with a yellow pattern on a red ground, a golden pattern on a yellow ground, and plaid patterns in five colors. In addition, green was used to indicate the center at the Samgil temple. Diverse and high-quality colorful textiles were often used to indicate the central cardinal point. From this, we can deduce that the center was considered to be a symbol of the highest authority and dignity.