This study was conducted for 29 Sarira Reliquaries produced in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla to analyze origins, types and manufacturing backgrounds of the Sarira Reliquaries of the Unified Silla and examine them from multilateral aspects includin...
This study was conducted for 29 Sarira Reliquaries produced in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla to analyze origins, types and manufacturing backgrounds of the Sarira Reliquaries of the Unified Silla and examine them from multilateral aspects including their association with art works.
Firstly, in the Chapter 2, this research investigated origins and manufacturing backgrounds of the Sarira Reliquaries in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla. The number of the Sarira Reliquaries more than doubled in the Unified Silla of the 8-9th centuries compared with prior periods. Such an increase of the Sarira Reliquaries resulted from a variety of changes under the periodic situation which were reflected in their production including rise of Stupa constructions, expansion of prayers for the Sarira Reliquary and inflow of a new Buddhist sect.
In the Chapter 3, this study examined types of the 8-9th centuries Sarira containers in the Unified Silla. The Sarira container may be divided into the exterior and interior Sarira containers and the Sarira bottle and in particular exterior and interior Sarira containers for protecting the Sarira bottle may be segmented into the Box shape, Buddhist altar&Coffin lid shape, Royal palace shape, Case shape, Cup shape, Jar shape and the Monk-stupa shape according to their appearance. In addition, Sarira bottle may be divided into types Ⅰ, Ⅱ depending on whether it has a base or not. Sarira containers of each type differ from their use according to each period.
In the Period Ⅰ corresponding to the early and mid 8th century, Sarira containers of the Box and Case shapes were used for the exterior and interior Sarira containers and as for the Sarira bottle Ⅱ-A type, a green glass bottle with a clear distinction between body and neck though having no base may be identified.
In the Period Ⅱ ranging from the mid 8th century to the early 9th century, there were various types of Sarira containers. Along with new types of Sarira containers that began to be manufactured including the Buddhist altar&Coffin lid shape, Royal palace shape and the Cup shape, the existing types of Sarira cases like the Box shape were made continually. Besides, as for the Sarira bottle both types of Ⅰ, Ⅱ may be identified.
In the Period Ⅲ corresponding to the mid and the end of the 9th century, there were Sarira containers of the Seung-tap(Monk-stupa) shape and the Jar shape made of agalmatolite and the noteworthy thing is that both were Sarira containers used in the Period Ⅲ only. Both Ⅰ, Ⅱ types of Sarira bottles may be identified but in general show changes of simplified shapes and decorations.
Various types of Sarira containers in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla may be identified but it shows a tendency to favor types easy to make as time passed. It seems to be resulted from the lack of economic power by prayers though they were expanded from the Royal family to individual so simplified Sarira cases were preferred gradually.
In the Chapter 4. this research investigated changes of offerings along with composition of enshrinement for the Sarira container. The Sarira Reliquary in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla may be divided into the Sarira container and offering. As for the Sarira container, case was enshrined by superposition and dual composition of enshrinement increased as time passed from the original triple and quadruple compositions of enshrinement. In the same manner as changes of Sarira container types, it seems to be connected to expansion of prayers. Changes may be also identified from offerings and they were extended to new kinds of offerings including the Buddhist statue· Miniature Stupa from those similar to burial goods of the tomb in the early period. Particularly, miniature stupa is the offering that appeared after the influx of Mugujonggwangdaedaranigyong so attracts attention in that it was used intensively in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla.
Finally, in the Chapter 5, this study examined the relation between artworks and Sarira Reliquaries in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla. The Sarira Reliquary is the work having a closed property that may not be discerned until repair of a stupa once it was enshrined. Hence, rather than similarities among Sarira Reliquaries, it is required to examine their connection with artworks in those days. As for artworks, analysis may be conducted in terms of architecture, sculpture and crafts. Firstly it shows that those days' architecture had an effect on a variety of structure-typed Sarira cases. Connection of sculpture with the Sarira container may be shown from various ornaments and it reveals that manufacturing techniques were shared by diverse crafts and Sarira Reliquaries in those days.
A variety of Sarira Reliquaries of the Unified Silla had an influence on those of the Goryeo Dynasty. It may be examined in terms of succession of an enshrinement method for the Sarira container, type of the Sarira container, decorative expression and offering. In particular, some types of the Sarira containers including those of the Monk-stupa shape are identified even in the 14th century as well as in the early Goryeo period. As such, Sarira containers of the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla have significance in that they influenced Sarira Reliquaries in the Goryeo Dynasty.
Hence, Sarira Reliquaries in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla succeeded to prior types of Sarira cases, at the same time manufacturing Sarira cases of new types including the Buddhist altar&Coffin lid shape, Royal palace shape, Cup shape and the Monk-stupa shape and showing the originality of the Unified Silla's own. Sarira Reliquaries in the 8-9th centuries Unified Silla reveal various changes influenced by those days' social and religious transitions. Furthermore, they have significance in that they shared manufacturing techniques with diverse artworks including those days' architecture, sculpture and crafts.