동화사 비로암의 두 비로자나불상

The Two Vairocana Buddha Images of Biroam, Donghwasa Temple: ‘Crowned Vairocana’ and ‘Buddha Image Vairocana’

Two different images of Vairocana Buddha exist at Biro am Hermitage of Donghwasa Temple. One is an engraving of a Crowned Vairocana depicted on a sarira reliquary enshrined in a pagoda. 1he other is a stone statue of a Buddha Image Vairocana situated in a Dharma Hall. 1he sarira reliquary ofDonghwasa Temple is especially noteworthy for the images of seated Buddhas engraved onto the four sides of the reliquary s interior. 1he south side features a rare instance of a Buddha with hands placed together, while the west side portrays the seated Vairocana Buddha wearing a crown. 1his paper primarily focuses on the latter image and the reason for its specific placement on the west side of the reliquary during the late half of the ninth century. 1he image of the seated Buddha on the south (or front) side of the reliquary is identified as Maitreya. 1his identification is based on the presence of the Buddha triad above the clouds as well as the relationship between the Virtuous Monk Shimji and the cult of Maitreya. As Maitreya was the central figure in the main cult of Donghwasa Temple, it is most likely represented by the Buddha image on the south side which is portrayed with the most decorated canopy and throne. On the adjoining west side, a relief of seated Vairocana Buddha is featured instead of Amitibha Buddha. 1he background to this occurrence is thought to be related to the excerpt, all above the lotus throne [Pure Land of Utmost Bliss] are Vairocana· from the Commentary of Mahāvairocana Sūtra s Rites. Though the Mahāvairocana Sūtra s Rites is actually a part of the last volume of the Mahāvairocana Sūtra, the two were circulated as separate texts during the Silla dynasty. 1he same is true of Mahāvairocana Sūtra s Rites and its interpretative text, the Commentary of Mahāvairocana Sūtra s Rites. Monk Bulgasaui of Yeongmyosa Temple, the royal temple of the Silla dynasty, wrote the Commentary of Mahāvairocana Sūtra s Rites in direct consultation with his teacher, monk Subhakarasimha. Thus, the text had significant influence on the Buddhist monks of Silla and served to introduce the systematic faith of Esoteric Buddhism to the Silla dynasty. The particular popularity of Wugoujingguang datuoluonijing in the eighth and ninth centuries can also be understood within the same context. This is because the Commentary of Mahāvairocana Sūtra s Rites placed central importance on D harani. It is thought that the Commentary of Mahāvairocana Sūtra s Rites played a significant role in the creation ofBiroam Hermitage of Donghwasa Temple. With a firm belief that devotional offerings to the Buddha were of the utmost importance, Virtuous Monk Shimji constructed Biroam for King Minae s blissful rebirth in the Pure Land in the West. As Mahiivairocana Sutra s Rites is a text about the order of devotional offerings for entry into Vairocana Buddha s world of enlightenment, it is only natural that the main Buddha images of Biroam depict the essential figure ofVairocana. Thus, Virtuous Monk Shimji endeavored to secure King Minae s place in the Pure Land in the West through the enshrinement ofVairocana images. This act combined the depictions of a foreign Buddha Image Vairocana of Huayan and a domestic Crowned Vairocana of Esoteric Buddhism, ultimately functioning as a Memorial Buddhist Service executed on behalf of King Minae.