영주 숙수사지 출토 소금동불상 연구

Abstract

On December 1, 1953, a total of twenty-seven Small Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues were excavated from the Yeongju Suksusa Temple Site. These statues which are from Three states to Goryeo have drawn lots of attention due to the fact that they were discovered in Yeongju, the territory of Silla, and their excavacated site, ‘Suksusa Temple Site’ is clear. As ‘Sosuseowon’ was founded during the Joseon era and has been preserved until today, at the very site where the Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues were discovered, ‘Suksusa Temple Site’is impossible to excavate further. Thus, we can presumably trace its history only through the documents related to the ‘Suksusa Temple’ and existant stone artifacts. The twenty-seven Small Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues are comprised of Triad Buddha, Buddha, Infant Buddha, Bodhisattva, Seated Statue in Half Lotus Posture, Buddhist Guardians and Donors. To list them in chronological order, 13 are from the period of the Three States, 8 from the Unified Silla, and 6 from Goryeo. Statues from the period of the Three States shows they have been influenced by the Northern Wei style of Goguryeo, as well as unique features of Silla. In particular, the standing gold gilt bronze Buddha which belonged to the 6th century, is the earliest form of existing Silla statues. The standing Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues of the Unified Silla shows the forms and trends of Gyeongju region. In Goryeo, the Triad Buddha statue and Buddhist Guardians can be seen, both engraved on relief plates. Yeongju, where the Suksusa Temple Site is located, and the Small Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues were excavated, has been not only a border between Silla and Goguryeo but also has been an important route for introducing the advanced culture. Given that, it is assumed that the Suksusa Temple was also founded in this context and the active constructions of the Buddha Statues were also fostered. This study concentrates on shedding lights to seeking for the meaning and the value of the Small Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues of the Yeongju Suksusa, on which only fragmented studies have been performed so far, related with the Small Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues during the Silla periods. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the expansion of the indepth studies on the Suksusa Temple Site and the 27 pieces of Small Gilt-bronze Buddha Statues.