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Excavated Relics from the Clay Four Guardian Kings of Songgwangsa Temple, Suncheon

순천 송광사 소조 사천왕상 복장유물 ( 順天 松廣寺 塑造 四天王像 腹藏遺物 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Excavated Relics from the Clay Four Guardian Kings of Songgwangsa Temple, Suncheon
Quantity
Designated Date 2006.04.28
Age Late Goryeo-Joseon
Address Songgwangsa Temple 100, Songgwangsaan-gil, Songgwang-myeon, Suncheon, Jeollanam-do

These relics were excavated from the Clay Four Guardian Kings of Songgwangsa Temple when the clay statues were dismantled for repair work. They include twelve kinds of fourteen books, a printed version of Daranigyeong (Dharani Sutra, 383 sheets), and a storage case. Among the relics, the books, in particular, are very valuable as they provide great insight into the publication of gyojang (Buddhist scriptures) during the Goryeo Dynasty. Most of the books excavated are copies of gyojang, together with copies of the Daejanggyeong (Complete Collection of the Sacred Writings of Buddhism) and books produced by the temple. Among the 1,000 or so titles of gyojang published by Gyojangdogam, a Directorate for Buddhist Scriptures established by State Preceptor Uicheon (posthumous name: Daegak), only three remain both inside and outside Korea, and among the copies published by Gangyeongdogam (Directorate of Buddhist Publications) established by King Sejo of the Joseon Dynasty, only ten or so remain, either at Songgwangsa Temple or in private hands. A total of ten copies of gyojang were found in the Clay Four Guardian Kings at Songgwangsa Temple, i.e. the same number known to be extant. They constitute a valuable material as they provide the following information from which the publication status of Gyojangdogam can be surmised: 1) printed books published by Gwanggyowon at Geumsansa Temple existed prior to the publications issued by the Gyojangdogam at Heungwangsa Temple; 2) wood-printing blocks obtained from the Khitan were copied and published by the Gyojangdogam; 3) manuscripts were made into printed versions and published as books by the Gangyeongdogam during the Joseon Dynasty. In this respect, the books excavated from the Clay Four Guardian Kings of Songgwangsa Temple provide important historical evidence and are a valuable resource for study of the history of Buddhist culture, bibliography and printing. The Daranigyeong in print and the storage case are also valuable relics as they exhibit the characteristics of accompanying relics that were enshrined in statues at Buddhist temples.