Sutras Working in Buddha’s Belly and Buddhists’ Pockets: Miniature Sutras in Korean Buddhism
Issue: Vol 9 No. 2-3 (2013) Special Issue: Miniature Iconic Books
Journal: Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts
Subject Areas: Religious Studies Islamic Studies Biblical Studies
DOI: 10.1558/post.35815
Abstract:
This article argues that miniature sutras allow Korean Buddhists to feel Buddha's presence and protection in their daily lives. Miniature sutras are so small that they are difficult, if not impossible, to read, but these texts are not intended for study. Instead, the mere presence of these miniature sutras is thought to be efficacious. Many Korean Buddhists possess small Buddha statues at home into whose hollow bellies they insert miniature sutras. To those Buddhists, sutras, which are the dharma of the Buddha, activate the statues and turn them into the Buddha himself. In addition, they believe that miniature sutras in their hands or pockets bless them and protect them from evil. Scriptures as the word-body of the Buddha are thought to work for Buddhists irrespective of their semantic content, and without any explicit ritual recitation or repetition.
Author: Yohan Yoo, Woncheol Yun
References :
“Bokjang.” 2010. In Doopedia Doosanbaekgua [Doosan Encyclopedia].
http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=
view&MAS_IDX=101013000870987
Bak, Jeongho. 2017. “A Buddhist Sutra Found in the Head of a Buddha Statue in Silsangsa.” Joonangilbo. May 22. http://news.joins.com/article/21602102
Buddhazone. 2008. http://www.buddhazone.co.kr/shop/main/index.php
Bulgyosesang. 2012. http://www.bulkyosesang.co.kr/
Bulgyomart. 2012. http://www.bulkyomart.com/
Cabezón, José Ignacio. 2004. “Scripture.” In Encyclopedia of Buddhism Volume 2, edited by Robert E. Buswell Jr., 755–758. New York: Thomson Gale.
Dallapiccola, A.L. 2004. “Stupa.” In Encyclopedia of Buddhis, Volume 2, edited by Robert E. Buswell Jr., 803–808. New York: Thomson Gale.
Esposito, John L., Darrell J. Fasching, and Todd T. Lewis. 2015. World Religions Today. Fifth edition. New York: Oxford University Press.
Graham, William A. 1987. Beyond Written Word: Oral Aspects of Scriptures in the History of Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Jeontongbulbokjang mit jeomanuisikbojonhoe [Jeontongbulbokjang]. 2014. Jeontong Bulbokjanguisik Mit Jeomanuisik [Traditional Rites of Storing Sacred Objects in Buddha Statues and of Drawing Eyes on them]. Seoul: Bulgyomunhwajaeyeonguso.
Jongrobulgyosa. 2012. http://www.jongrobulkyosa.co.kr/index/index.php
Joo, Kyeong-mi. 2004. “Hanguk Bulsarijangeom-e Iseoseo Mugujeongguangdaedaranigyeong-ui Uiui” [Translation from Korean: The Significance of Rasmivimalavisuddhaprabhanama-dharani-sutra in Korean Buddhist Reliquaries]. Journal of Buddhist Art 2: 164–196.
———. 2016. “Silla Jungdae Bulsarijangeom-ui Dayangseong-gua Munhwasajeok Uiui” [Stylistic Multiplicity of Buddhist Reliquaries in the Middle Silla and Its Cultural Historical Meaning]. Sogang Journal of Early Korean History 23: 249–290.
Lee, Seon-yong. 2016. “Urinara Bulbokjang-ui Teukjing” [Translation from Korean: Characteristics of Korean Bulbokang]. Korean Journal of Art History 289: 93–119.
Levering, Miriam. 1989. “Scripture and Its Reception: A Buddhist Case.” In Rethinking Scripture: Essays from a Comparative Perspective, edited by Miriam Levering, 58–101. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Mahamall. 1998. http://www.mahamall.co.kr/
Moranbulgyoyongpum. 2006. http://moranbulkyo.co.kr/index.html
Mun, Myeongdae. 1991. “Bokjang.” In Han-guk Minjok Munhwa Daebaekgua [Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]. http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index
Rhi, Juhyung. 2004. “Gandhara Bulsang-gwa Sari Bongan” [Translation from Korean: The Installation of a Relic in Buddha Image of Gandhara]. Central Asian Studies 9: 129–159.
Ricoeur, Paul. 1976. Interpretation Theory: Discourse and Surplus of Meaning. Texas: Texas Christian University Press.
Ricoeur, Paul. 1995. Figuring the Sacred: Religion, Narrative, and Imagination. Minneapolis: Fortress.
Sabanuri. 2010. http://sabanuri.com/
Sachalmall. 2005. http://www.sachal.kr/
Seckel, Dietrich. 1968 [1964]. The Art of Buddhism. Translated by Ann E. Keep. New York: Greystone.
Sejonmall. 2003. http://www.sejonmall.com/FrontStore/iStartPage.phtml
Seonjaemall. 2008. http://www.seonjaemall.co.kr/
The National Museum of Korea. 1991. Bulsarijangeom [The Art of Sarira Reliquary]. Seoul: The National Museum of Korea.
Watts, James W. 2006. “The Three Dimensions of Scriptures.” Postscripts 2: 135–159.
Willemen, Charles. 2004. “Dharma and Dharmas.” In Encyclopedia of Buddhism Volume 1, edited by Robert E. Buswell Jr., 217–224. New York: Thomson Gale.
Yoo, Yohan. 2010. “Possession and Repetition: Ways in Which Korean Lay Buddhists Appropriate Scriptures.” Postscripts 6: 243–259.