17세기 후반 조각승 색난의 활동과 그 계보 = A Study on the 17th-Century Sculptor-Monk Saengnan(色難) and the lineage

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper examines the sculptor-monk Saengnan (⾊難, ⾊蘭, 賾蘭), who was active in the Honam (湖南) region from the late 17th century to the early 18th century, and his contributions to Buddhist sculpture across various temples. Currently, a total of 33 records related to Saengnan have been identified in inscriptions, votive texts, and historical accounts: one from the 1660s, two from the 1670s, twelve from the 1680s, six from the 1690s, ten from the 1700s, one from the 1710s, and one from the 1730s. Among these, 26 records pertain to the creation of Buddhist statues, with over 200 statues still extant. Through these documentary sources, this study explores Saengnan’s activities, his master-disciple relationships, and the process of Buddhist statue production.
Due to the limited availability of historical records, Saengnan’s exact birth and death dates remain unknown. However, it is estimated that he was born around the 1640s and began training in Buddhist sculpture in the 1660s, initially as an assistant painter-monk.
He became a lead sculptor-monk in 1679, starting with the Buddhist statues at Seokmunam hermitage in Goheung. Over the following decades, he created numerous statues for Yeongsanjeon and Myeongbujeon halls in temples across Jeolla Province, including Neunggasa temple in Goheung, Jeongsusa temple in Gangjin, Cheoneunsa temple in Gurye, Ssangbongsa temple in Hwasun, Seongdoam temple and Daeheungsa temple in Haenam, Hwaeomsa temple in Gurye, Dogapsa temple in Yeongam, and Geumtapsa temple in Goheung.
In addition to his role as a sculptor, Saengnan actively participated as a donor in various temple projects. Notable examples include the casting of a temple bell at Neunggasa in 1698, the publication of Seonmun Yeomsong Seolhwa(禪門拈頌說話) in 1707, and the production of roof tiles at Neunggasa in 1711. He was also involved as a sponsor for the casting of a temple bell at Daeunam hermitage in Gwaneumsa, Okgu in 1730.
Saengnan belonged to the lineage of the monks sculptor Eungwon and Ingyun, forming a significant transmission lineage in Honam Buddhist sculpture from the 17th to 18th centuries. This lineage progressed as follows: Eungwon, Ingyun → Cheonsin → Saengnan, Chungok → Chobyeon, Ilgi → Hacheon, Sunmin, Seojun → Jiyeon. In addition, statues attributed to Saengnan or his disciples have been identified in various southern regions, including Haeinsa temple in Hapcheon, Okcheonsa temple in Goseong, and Pyochungsa temple in Miryang.
Given that Saengnan resided at Neunggasa in Goheung, it is likely that he was associated with the Buhyu Buddhist monk lineage, which was centered around Jogyesan Mountain.