신라·고려 관음신앙에 보이는 성(聖)과 속(俗)의 통섭 양상과 그 의미 = The Aspect of the Integration of the Sacred and the Secular in the Silla and Goryeo Avalokitesvara Belief and its Meaning

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper focused on how the belief in Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva as expressed in the Lotus Sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra was integrated in Silla and Goryeo. In general, the Avalokitesvara belief based on the Lotus Sutra has the pursuit of benefit in this life, while the Avalokitesvara faith in the Avatamsaka Sutra has a seeker-oriented nature along with the belief-in the holy body of bodhisattva. However, there are cases where these two Avalokitesvara beliefs coexist, as representative examples of which were the attaining Buddhahood in the present body in Silla and the Water-moon Avalokitesvara Painting of Goryeo.
First, the attainment of Buddhahood in the present body presupposes the recognition that the land of Silla is a sacred place where the holy body of Avalokitesvara resides. The incarnation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva appears to help one attain Buddhahood, and here we see the integration of the two types of Avalokitesvara beliefs. the Water-moon Avalokitesvara Paintings was based on the Avatamsaka Sutra. However, among the Patintings, there were some that depict scenes of disasters mentioned in the Lotus Sutra at the bottom. This also shows the integration of the two types of Avalokitesvara beliefs.
The Avalokiteshvara in the Lotus Sutra is thought to belong to the secular space because it solves the suffering of the secular world, and the belief-in the holy body of bodhisattva can be said to have transformed the secular world into a sacred space. Therefore, the fact that the two Avalokiteshvara appear together can be seen as the integration of sacred and secular.
The Lotus Sutra also presents the role of Avalokitesvara as an assistant in attaining Buddhahood. Since Avalokitesvara’s activities only move between secular and sacred spaces in the process of achieving the goal of ‘achieving Buddhahood,’ it is thought that the integration of the two types of Avalokitesvara beliefs is possible.