In this essay, I look into the sarira reliquary from India, China and Korea. Sahra reliquary was known as death of a Buddhist saint, but it was originated from Indian Asoca King's 84,000 sarira. Indian sahra reliquary can be divided into sphere type, ...
In this essay, I look into the sarira reliquary from India, China and Korea. Sahra reliquary was known as death of a Buddhist saint, but it was originated from Indian Asoca King's 84,000 sarira. Indian sahra reliquary can be divided into sphere type, cylinder type, and stupa type by threir shape. The sarira box from Piprahwa Pagoda is a good example of the sphere type. The Piprahwa Saria box was found in 1898 and was collected by Gandala museum. It was assumed that sarira box was enshrined in B.C. 4th century. It is one of the oldest Indian sarira box. Also, the sarira box from the Drona sculpture in Kizil wall painting is another representative example of early Indian Sarira box. The cylinder type has couple of the examples; Sarira cases from Maya's Memorial of Loumbini, Kanisika Pagoda and Kutsche area in Japan. We could not find bottoms and the stereobate unlike sphere type and stupa type. The cylinder type appeard in the Indian wall painting and relief so we could estimate that it was typical type of Sarira case. stupa type sarira case is belong to admiration faith for stupa in India, so it represents architecture at that period. It has important influence to China, Korea and other circumferences. We could find 7th century gold sarira case in Hanamsung, China. However, we found more examples from Korea; the 7th century earthen ware Funeral Urn in Korea National Museum, the 9th century bronze sarira jar in Dongkuk University, and the 9th-10th century bronze sarira pagoda type in Holim Museum. There are more stupa type examples than China and Japan. Therefor, Korea accepted more positively Idian sarira reliquary. This period is a transitional period between sphere type and cylinder type. Buddhism was introduced into China from India in 1st century and the sarira faith might follow after that. There was not sarira reliquary before 5th century, but we can still found multiplex vessel were majority like India. Chinese sarira reliquary was related with the burial culture, so the burial sarira case type was typically appeared in 7th-9th century in China. In the Period of North and South Dynasties or Sui and Tang Dynasties, sarira was recognized as a person's ashes. We can confirm that sarira was burried in a tombstone. Buddihism was introduced into Korea in 4th century, but sarira reliquary was brought between late 6th century and 7th century. Gameen Temple and Somlim Temple sarira case was made in that period; however, the case is technologically very excellent example. It already had Shila's own originality. The Royal Palace type sarira reliquary's origin is not clarified. In my opinion, it originated from India or China's The Royal Palace type for a honorable person. It was on the assumption that Buddha's sarira was recognized as Buddha. When sarira was originally enshrined, it had majesty mode to transfering. Enshrined sarira might be in Gameen Temple and Somlim Temple gold outer sarira. Especially, the coffin lid is the most distinguishable part in The Royal Palace type sarira reliquary. It is derived form Donhwang cave's curtain. It was applied into part of architecture. Gameen Temple outer sarira box is composed of a door and the handroll architectural element and double roof, so it is a typical type of The Royal Palace type. The developed art object came from Buddhist civilization and Shila's active foreign relations. It is based on expansion of Shila's Buddhist studies. Consequently, Gameen Temple sarira reliquary reflects Shila's high stand in an international point of view and highly developed culture and deeply understanding Buddhist culture. However, The Royal Palace type sarira reliquary was technologically hard to make, so the Box type was developed like Nawonlee five stories pagoda inner sarira box. Bulgok Temple's inner sarira box make a comprise between The Royal Palace type and the Box type. In the 9th century, more variety of sarira reliquary type was made, and the India influenced stupa type sarira reliquary was one of that. Sahra's the way of enshrinement multiplex vessel is also main stream in India and China. The type has box, jar, case, bowel. This various kinds of sarira reliquary presents Korean ancient originality and highly developed art culture. From this research, we can understand how the sarira faith was important. I hope I can help informing this great art culture to the world.