조선 후기 불화(佛畫) 복장낭(腹藏囊)의 현황과 의미 = A Study of Current Status and Significance of the Ensouling Pouch Hung on Buddhist Paintings in the Late Joseon Dynasty

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Sacred objects hidden inside a statue of the Buddha or hung on Buddhist painting (called “Bokjang” in Korean) are the products of religious ritual service to grant symbolic meaning as the objects of faith by giving infinite vitality to the statue of the Buddha or the Buddhist painting. For those scared objects hidden inside, an ensouling pouch was made to put sacred objects in for scroll-type Buddhist paintings including large Buddhist painting for outdoor rituals. Only 19 ensouling pouches were identified with their year of production and they were found mainly in Gyeongbuk and Jeonnam provinces. In terms of production time, they were persistently produced from the early 18th century to the end of 19th century.
The function of an ensouling pouch was to put the scared objects that gave symbolic meaning and vitality to a Buddhist painting to be served for in a religious ritual service. Since an ensouling pouch was disclosed outside, ornamental function was strongly emphasized. Of the functions, Sanskrit and Mantra were the important factors of an ensouling pouch. In particular, Om (唵, Oṃ) is the symbolic object that symbolizes the best truth of all in the Buddhism and represents the meaning of the ensouling pouch quite well. The form of an ensouling pouch reflects the religious, mysterious, and symbolic meaning of Om(Oṃ) letter.
Meanwhile, reading the wish statement of a prayer, it is suspected that ensouling pouches in the late Joseon Dynasty were accepted as symbols of the principles of Buddhist and Buddhism and recognized as the target of the religious service. Eventually, ensouling pouch shows the complex meaning and symbols that guide the path to the enlightenment and attaining Buddhahood. It is a result of practical service as a Buddhist through showing respect and offering to Buddha.