• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.224-243
• /
• 2020

The rock-cut relief of two Buddhas seated side-by-side in Wonpungri is a large Buddha sculpture in relief on the side of a cliff in Wonpung-ri, Goesan. This Buddha sculpture is from the Buddhist scripture Sutra of the Lotus. <法華經> Two seated Buddhas statues were prevalent in the Balhae Kingdom, but this was not popular in Silla and Goryeo. In the main text, the time that the two seated Buddhas in Wonpung-ri was created is identified as being during the 10th century. King Gwangjong created a Buddha statue for political purposes. The relief of two seated Buddha image carved on a cliff is located on an important traffic route over the Sobaek Mountain Range. After King Gwangjong took the throne, he paid close attention to the reigning powers of Jincheon and Cheongju because the people of Jincheon and Cheongju were engaged in a power struggle against Gwangjong. The huge relief of two seated Buddhas statue shows the authority of King Gwangjong. In particular, the people of Jincheon and Cheongju had to see this Buddha statue when crossing the Sobaek Mountain Range. The image contained in the relief of the two seated Buddhas features many characteristics of the sculpture style of the Balhae Kingdom. After the fall of Balhae, many of the Balhae people settled in Mungyeong. Balhae people from Mungyeong participated in the production of the relief of the two seated Buddhas. Through the relief of the two seated Buddhas, King Gwangjong wanted to show the people of Jincheon and Cheongju that the Balhae people were supporting him. The relief of two seated Buddhas reflects the historical situation of the King Gwangjong era in the late 10^th century and the style of sculpture.

• Journal of architectural history
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.39-59
• /
• 2010

Seokgatap and Dabotap are representing the tower patterns in "Gyeonbotappum" of the Lotus Sutra. It is very peculiar, for the description on "Gyeonbotappum" is usually made in terms of 'the two Buddhas sitting side by side'. If 'the two Buddhas sitting side by side' is describing the situation in Dabotap, the double structure of Seokgatap and Dabotap can be said to symbolize the scriptural description in a different viewpoint. Its correct comprehension is pretty important in understanding Bulguksa. For this, this paper first arranged the critical minds and flows about the faith objects in Indian Buddhism. And, it was considered how these aspects were accumulated through Saddharma-pundarika sutra. Secondly, it was considered why "Gyeonbotappum" took the typical symbolism in Saddharma-pundarika sutra(Lotus Sutra). These parts should be necessarily considered in advance in that Seokgatap and Dabotap were derived from the form of "Gyeonbotappum". Based on this approach, the author checked the actual aspects of Seokgatap that the tower was built on a natural rock ground and the stones surrounding the tower are constituting the 8-directional Lotus site. With these two aspects, we could get the clue on the foundation time of Bulguksa that its founder had intended. In that Dabotap was formed on the basis of "Gyeonbotappum", the features of Dabotap is very important in comprehending its foundation viewpoint. As a result, the viewpoint of double towers in Bulguksa can be said to be the one that the world of suffering was to change to the Pure Land after Sakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra on the top of Mt. Grdhrakuta and Prabhutaratna-tathagata proved it. This foundation viewpoint shows us clearly that 'the Lotus Buddhist Country' existed in parallel to the Avatamska Buddhist Country. It secures an appropriate meaning in that it can complement or adjust our understanding on the 'Buddhist country (Bulguk)' of Bulguksa where the Avatamska Idea is emphasized relatively highly as shown in the whole title of Bulguksa as 'Avatamska Bulguksa.'