Hand of the 42-armed Avalokiteśvara Holding A Skull Rod
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.In Korean Buddhist art, skulls rarely appear but were found in Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) paintings of Avalokiteśvara. These skulls, part of a mantra, were used to manipulate ghosts, differing from original Buddhist texts.
Area Of Science
- Art History
- Religious Studies
- Cultural Studies
Background
- Skulls typically symbolize death and mortality.
- Their presence is uncommon in Korean Buddhist art.
- This study investigates their depiction during Korea's Joseon dynasty (1392-1910).
Purpose Of The Study
- To explore the image and meaning of skulls in Joseon dynasty Korean Buddhist art.
- To analyze the context of skull imagery in relation to Avalokiteśvara.
- To understand the evolution of Buddhist iconography in Korea.
Main Methods
- Searched Google and the Research Information Sharing Service of Korea (RISS) using keywords: [Buddhist], [painting], [Korea], [Buddhism], [art], and [skull].
- Focused analysis on paintings and statues of Avalokiteśvara, particularly the multi-armed Sahasra-bhuja Avalokiteśvara.
- Examined Buddhist texts from the "Archives of Buddhist Culture" for textual evidence.
Main Results
- A skull was identified on a rod held by the 42-armed Sahasra-bhuja Avalokiteśvara in the 1458 royal version of the "Five Great Dhārāṇis Collection."
- This imagery corresponds to the "42-Hand Mantras," intended for communicating with and manipulating ghosts.
- The interpretation of the skull's purpose in Korean Buddhism differs from its original meaning in the Susiddhikara Sutra.
Conclusions
- The skull imagery in Joseon dynasty Korean Buddhist art, particularly with Avalokiteśvara, served a distinct purpose related to ghost manipulation.
- This divergence suggests a syncretism between esoteric Buddhism and indigenous folk religions in China and Korea.
- Further research can explore the broader implications of this cultural fusion on Buddhist iconography.
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