• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
• /
• no.43
• /
• pp.441-483
• /
• 2021

The introduction of dongbal[bara] is in line with Buddhism which was transmitted from India through China. Therefore, this paper tracked down the records of dongbal in Indian and Chinese Buddhism, and especially in scriptures and in ritual texts of Korean Buddhism, and studied the functionality and the use of dongbal, and the attributes of Baramu. Among the scriptures that record dongbal, 『Myobeopyeon hwagyeong(妙法蓮華經)』(A.D.406) is the earliest to be translated. The records of bara in the scriptures were written as dongbal(銅鈸) mostly, and that it was used as ritual tool(法具), instrumental offering, and religious ornament(莊嚴物). The oldest record which can verify that dongbal was used in Korea is 『Seodaesajajaeryugijang(西大寺資財流記帳)』(A.D.780). The oldest cymbals-like relic remaining today, the reliquary from the temple Gameunsa built in A.D.628, dates back to the early period of Unified Silla. This indicates that dongbal has been used at Korean temples by the 7th century at least. The records of dongbal(銅鈸) written in cheong-gyu(淸規, buddhist monastic rules) and ritual texts are classified as myeongbal(鳴鈸) and dongbal(動鈸). The letter 'myeong(鳴)' of myeongbal means to make a sound, and thus myeongbal refers to clash and make the sound of the bara. It is verified that myeongbal had certain established rules and methods. It appears that dongbal(動鈸) refers to Baramu(the cymbals dance) since the letter 'dong(動)' means movement or to move. Hence, the concept of movement was added to the signification of myeongbal, and became dongbal(動鈸), and then developed into baramu being transmitted until today. There are 8 types of Baramu transmitted in Korean Buddhist rituals, and they could be classified into purifying ritual, inviting ritual, protecting ritual, offering ritual, bathing ritual, dressing ritual, saluting ritual, and praising ritual according to their attributes.

• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
• /
• no.25
• /
• pp.291-332
• /
• 2012

Cham is the Buddhist ritual dance performed at the religious festival of Lamaism. It has been spread and performed at the Lamaist monastery of Tibet, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Monglia. The type and style of Cham are differntiated by the region and sect. However, they share the common aim of exorcising all evils symbolized by linga who resists the Buddhist dharma, and thereby celebrating the victory of Buddhism. This paper deals with the ritualistic concept and structure of Cham with a focus on Hemis Chetsu of Ladakh located at the extreme north of India. The festival is held to honor the birthday of $Padm{\bar{a}}sambhava$ who is the founder of Tibetan Buddhism in the 8th century. As a result, this paper drew the characteristics of Cham performance such as dance as the incarnation of sacred beings, ritualistic offering, visualization meditation as well as the ritual space as a mandala, the ritualistic intent of stylized acting, accumulative performance structure, the $Mahay{\bar{a}}nic$ motif of performance.

• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
• /
• no.43
• /
• pp.381-403
• /
• 2021

Cheonsubara Dance is one of the most important ceremonies in Buddhist rituals. This paper is a study on principles of Cheonsubara Dance in Yeongnam. This also distinguishes the Cheonsubara Dance performed for about 7 minutes with no patterns according to 'The Great Dharani of Spiritually Sublime Phrases' by dance words, and analizes its combinations and principles. Cheonsubara Dance in Yeongnam consists of 7 dance words(Greeting, Carrying, Carrying with 180° rotation, Bara-Garugi, Bara-Garugi with both hands, rotate once, Bara-chigi), and put together according to the number of letters from 'The Great Dharani of Spiritually Sublime Phrases'. Usually, the principles can be seen through 4 types of changes from the dance: 1) When letters of 'The Great Dharani of Spiritually Sublime Phrases' appear consecutively with the same number of characters, 2) When a two-letter word turns into a three-letter word, 3) When the opposite of 2) occurs, 4) When 2~3 letter words change in a row.