1493年 水鍾寺 석탑 봉안 왕실발원 불상군 연구 (Royal Family-Commissioned Buddhist Statues Enshrined inside the Stone Pagoda of Sujongsa Temple in 1493)

서지정보

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· 저자명 : 박아연

초록

The group of miniature Buddhist statues, enshrined inside the stone pagoda of Sujongsa Temple, was commissioned by Joseon’s royal family, and is precisely dated to 1493.
This series of statues, considered a masterpiece of early Joseon Buddhist sculpture, were restored on the commission by several female members of the royal family, and are noted for their peculiar details related to their restoration, enshrinement and composition.
Sujongsa Temple was rebuilt in 1459 on the order of King Sejo, two decades after a relic pagoda was erected there in 1439 for Princess Jeonghye, a daughter of King Taejong. After its reconstruction into a temple of impressive proportions, Sujongsa gained in prestige, and came to be considered as a temple endowed with supernatural powers. During the reign of King Seongjong, in particular, the temple, under the protection of the queen dowager, was frequented by many Buddhist nuns and women of high social station. The fact that several of King Seongjong’s consorts together commissioned the restoration of this group of Buddhist statues and had them enshrined inside the stone pagoda is probably not unrelated to this history of Sujongsa Temple, in which it drew a large crowd of women faithful.
The inscription on the bottom of the gilt-bronze seated Buddha, one of the Buddhist statuettes, and the text of prayer enshrined together with them reveal that their creation was funded by Myeongbin, a consort to King Taejong. In 1493, three of the consorts of King Seongjong, namely, Sugyong Lady Hong, Sugyong Lady Jeong and Sugwon Lady Kim,decided to together commission their restoration as an offering for the prosperity of the dynasty and the health and longevity of royal family members and their own children. After the restoration, they were housed inside the first floor of the stone pagoda during the same year, according to the same source.
The gilt-bronze seated Buddha appears to have been the personal devotional object of Myeongbin Lady Kim, but enshrined later, together with other statuettes in 1493, following the restoration project commissioned by the three consorts of King Seongjong. The restoration of these statues took place shortly after their initial creation, both in the late 15th century. Also, the year 1493 (弘治六年, 6th year of Hongzhi Year), written in ink on the second and third-level roof stone of the stone pagoda, suggests that the statues were placed inside the pagoda at the time of its construction.
The people who funded the creation and restoration of these statues are linked together through religious as well as family ties. It was thanks to the frequentation of Sujongsa Temple by the ladies of the royal family during King Taejong’s reign that the Buddhist statue commissioned by Lady Kim was housed in this temple. The three consorts to King Seongjong funded the reconstruction of Haeinsa Temple in 1490 and, meanwhile,they were relatives through marriages of their children. Beyond these personal and family ties, these three ladies also probably shared the common faith-based goal in commissioning the restoration project.
The three gilt-bronze Buddha statues lodged inside a gilt bronze shrine represent a seated Sakyamuni, a pensive Bodhisattva and a seated Ksitigarbha, which is not a typical composition of a Buddha triad. They, furthermore, vary in size and appearance. The three Buddha statues, therefore, are not likely to have been planned to be grouped together from the outset, but the pensive Bodhisattva and the seated Ksitigarbha appear to have been added to the shrine to accompany the seated Sakyamuni which was placed there alone initially. Meanwhile, the three wooden statues inside a wooden shrine represent Avalokitesvara, Ksitigarbha and Heavenly King and form a peculiar set, as they differ from each other in style as well as in size. Together, they seem to symbolize worldly benefits and blessings in the afterlife.
This group of Buddha statues enshrined in Sujongsa Temple in 1493 eloquently embody the characteristics of 15th century Buddhist sculpture; in other words, the new style forged in early Joseon by blending native sculptural traditions from the late Goryeo Dynasty with the sculptural style of the Ming Dynasty. These statues, therefore, are invaluable for understanding the characteristics of Buddhist art in early Joseon, during which the sculptural style specific to the dynasty was slowly taking shape.

영어초록

The group of miniature Buddhist statues, enshrined inside the stone pagoda of Sujongsa Temple, was commissioned by Joseon’s royal family, and is precisely dated to 1493.
This series of statues, considered a masterpiece of early Joseon Buddhist sculpture, were restored on the commission by several female members of the royal family, and are noted for their peculiar details related to their restoration, enshrinement and composition.
Sujongsa Temple was rebuilt in 1459 on the order of King Sejo, two decades after a relic pagoda was erected there in 1439 for Princess Jeonghye, a daughter of King Taejong. After its reconstruction into a temple of impressive proportions, Sujongsa gained in prestige, and came to be considered as a temple endowed with supernatural powers. During the reign of King Seongjong, in particular, the temple, under the protection of the queen dowager, was frequented by many Buddhist nuns and women of high social station. The fact that several of King Seongjong’s consorts together commissioned the restoration of this group of Buddhist statues and had them enshrined inside the stone pagoda is probably not unrelated to this history of Sujongsa Temple, in which it drew a large crowd of women faithful.
The inscription on the bottom of the gilt-bronze seated Buddha, one of the Buddhist statuettes, and the text of prayer enshrined together with them reveal that their creation was funded by Myeongbin, a consort to King Taejong. In 1493, three of the consorts of King Seongjong, namely, Sugyong Lady Hong, Sugyong Lady Jeong and Sugwon Lady Kim,decided to together commission their restoration as an offering for the prosperity of the dynasty and the health and longevity of royal family members and their own children. After the restoration, they were housed inside the first floor of the stone pagoda during the same year, according to the same source.
The gilt-bronze seated Buddha appears to have been the personal devotional object of Myeongbin Lady Kim, but enshrined later, together with other statuettes in 1493, following the restoration project commissioned by the three consorts of King Seongjong. The restoration of these statues took place shortly after their initial creation, both in the late 15th century. Also, the year 1493 (弘治六年, 6th year of Hongzhi Year), written in ink on the second and third-level roof stone of the stone pagoda, suggests that the statues were placed inside the pagoda at the time of its construction.
The people who funded the creation and restoration of these statues are linked together through religious as well as family ties. It was thanks to the frequentation of Sujongsa Temple by the ladies of the royal family during King Taejong’s reign that the Buddhist statue commissioned by Lady Kim was housed in this temple. The three consorts to King Seongjong funded the reconstruction of Haeinsa Temple in 1490 and, meanwhile,they were relatives through marriages of their children. Beyond these personal and family ties, these three ladies also probably shared the common faith-based goal in commissioning the restoration project.
The three gilt-bronze Buddha statues lodged inside a gilt bronze shrine represent a seated Sakyamuni, a pensive Bodhisattva and a seated Ksitigarbha, which is not a typical composition of a Buddha triad. They, furthermore, vary in size and appearance. The three Buddha statues, therefore, are not likely to have been planned to be grouped together from the outset, but the pensive Bodhisattva and the seated Ksitigarbha appear to have been added to the shrine to accompany the seated Sakyamuni which was placed there alone initially. Meanwhile, the three wooden statues inside a wooden shrine represent Avalokitesvara, Ksitigarbha and Heavenly King and form a peculiar set, as they differ from each other in style as well as in size. Together, they seem to symbolize worldly benefits and blessings in the afterlife.
This group of Buddha statues enshrined in Sujongsa Temple in 1493 eloquently embody the characteristics of 15th century Buddhist sculpture; in other words, the new style forged in early Joseon by blending native sculptural traditions from the late Goryeo Dynasty with the sculptural style of the Ming Dynasty. These statues, therefore, are invaluable for understanding the characteristics of Buddhist art in early Joseon, during which the sculptural style specific to the dynasty was slowly taking shape.

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