• Title/Summary/Keyword: 진언(眞言)

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A Study on the Character and Historical Significance of Sanskrit Roof Tiles in the Hoeamsa Temple of Yangju City (양주 회암사지 출토 범자 진언명(眞言銘) 기와의 특징과 의의)

  • Eom, Gi-Pyo
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.4-25
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    • 2017
  • The Hoeamsa Temple of Yangju City was established at least during the late Korea Dynasty. This temple was rebuilt several times with the support of the royal family from the late Korea Dynasty to the early Joseon Dynasty. It was continually rebuilt in association with JiGong monk, HyeKeun monk, and MuHak monk. Hoeamsa temple was leading the Buddhist culture as a Buddhist center of the Joseon Dynasty . It was destroyed in the late Joseon Period. This site has been excavated several times since 1997. Various roofing tiles were unearthed. Of these tiles the edge of eaves are the artifacts showing the best features of this era. In this temple site has been excavated a variety of Sanskrit roof tiles. These tiles were made using superior technique. On the roof tiles are engraved Sanskrit mantras with a variety of 1 to 9 words. The jeongbeopkkye mantra(oṃ raṃ) and six-word mantra(oṃ ma ṇi pa dme hūṃ) were discovered the most. These mantras were believe to expel several evils from the Buddhist temple. It must have been that the six-word mantra culture became prevalent and provided a turning point in the history of Korean Buddhism. We can clearly know when some of the Sanskrit roof tiles were first manufactured. These roof tiles are the absolute standard of the other Sanskrit roof tiles excavated from different Buddhist temples. The master craftsmen must have been very skilled, understood the mantra very well, and had deep faith in the Sanskrit mantra. Hoeamsa Temple is a milestone in studying the Sanskrit roof tiles. More studies on various aspects are expected to be followed.

Interpretation and Meaning of Celadon Inlaid with Sanskrit Mantras in the late Goryeo Dynasty (고려 후기 범자 진언명 상감청자의 해석과 의미)

  • Lee Jun-kwang
    • MISULJARYO - National Museum of Korea Art Journal
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    • v.104
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    • pp.70-100
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    • 2023
  • The celadon made in the Goryeo era, a time when Buddhism was flourishing in Korea, naturally contains many elements of Buddhist culture. Among them, inlaid celadon with Sanskrit inscriptions bears a close relationship with esoteric Buddhism. However, the research on deciphering the Sanskrit inscriptions has made little progress due to the small number of extant examples. However, the four recent excavations at the No. 23 kiln site in Sadang-ri, Gangjin have yielded new materials that allow the existing materials to be categorized into several types. The results obtained through the reading and interpretation of the inscriptions are as follows: First, the Sanskrit characters inlaid on the celadon were parts of mantras. Inscriptions where only one character is apparent cannot be deciphered, but scholars have revealed that others are written in the manner of a wheel mantra represent the "Mantra for Purifying the Dharma-Realm," "Six-Syllable Mantra of the Vidyaraja," "Sweet Dew Mantra," "Jewel Pavilion Mantra," "Mantra of the Savior Bodhisattva," "Dharani of the Mind of the Budha of Infinite Life," and "Mantra for Extinguishing Evil Rebirth." Each mantra was written in Siddham script. Second, they are believed to have been produced during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries based on the arrangement of the inscriptions and the way the "Sweet Dew Mantra" is included in the "40 Hands Mantra." In particular, the celadon pieces with a mantra inlaid in a concentric manner are dated to the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries based on their production characteristics. Third, the interpretation of the inlaid mantras suggests that they all refer to the "Shattering Hell" and "Rebirth in the Pure Land." Based on this, it can be concluded that some of these inlaid celadon wares with mantras may have been used in Buddhist rituals for the dead, such as the ritual for feeding hungry ghosts (施餓鬼會). Also, because the Sadang-ri No. 23 kiln site and the "ga" area of the site are believed to have produced royal celadon, it is likely that these rituals were performed at the royal court or a temple under its influence. Fourth, this inlaid Goryeo celadon with Sanskrit mantras was not a direct influence of the ceramics of Yuan China. It emerged by adopting Yuan Chinese Buddhist culture, which was influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, into Goryeo Korea's existing esoteric practices. Fifth, the celadon wares inlaid with a Sanskrit mantra reveal a facet of the personal esoteric rituals that prevailed in late Goryeo society. Changes in esotericism triggered by the desire for relief from anxieties can be exemplified in epitaph tablets and coffins that express a shared desire for escaping hell and being born again in paradise. Sixth, the inlaid celadon with Sanskrit mantras shares some common features with other crafts. The similarities include the use of Siddham Sanskrit, the focus on Six-Syllable Mantra of the Vidyaraja, the correspondence with the contents of the mantras found on Buddhist bells, wooden coffins, and memorial tablets, and their arraignment in a similar manner with rooftiles. The major difference between them is that the Mantra for Extinguishing Evil Rebirth and the Sweet Dew Manta have not yet been found on other craftworks. I believe that the inscriptions of Sanskrit mantras are found mainly on inlaid celadon vessels due to their relatively low production cost and efficiency.