Research Article
The Origin and Significance of the Stupa of State Preceptor Hongbeop at Jeongtosa Temple
충북대
Published: June 2013 · No. 278 · pp. 31-60
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31065/ahak.278.278.201306.002
Full Text
Abstract
Stupa of State Preceptor Hongbeop moved from Jeongtosa Temple Site is characterized by a oval body tied with two strings crossing on the side with a floral design on the point of crossing and laid between two lotus blocks, one above and the other below it. This stupa body is similar to the “inverted bowl” of the Northeast Asian pagoda headdress. Considering the “inverted bowl” of the pagoda headdress originated with a same body of ancient Indian stupa, the appearance of such oval body stupa on the carvings in ancient Buddhist grottos and Stupa as well as the same figured sarira containers from early, this stupa body may have been originated from the inverted bowl-shaped body of ancient Indian stupas. And the strings and floral engraving on the surface can also trace back to the Indian stupas decorated with floral ornaments for dedication. A more direct influence can be found at the Mubongtap (無縫塔, seamless shape stupa) erected to honor State Preceptor Nanyang Huizhong (南陽 慧忠國師, ?-775), a pupil of the Sixth Patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism Huineng ( 慧能, 638-713). He exerted a strong influence upon the development of Chinese Buddhism during the transition period before the prosperity of the Mazu Daoyi( 馬祖 道一) School with the viewpoint of Northern Zen Buddhism which was under a strong influence from Tiantai(天台) and Sanlun(三論) Schools.
