“Visualization of the Sacredness and Auspiciousness”: A Study on the motifs of the Sarira Reliquaries from Baekje Mireuksa Temple

This article surveys the characteristic and significance of the surface decoration of the sarira reliquaries excavated at the stone pagoda of Baekje Mireuksa Temple site, built in 639. The sarira reliquaries of Mireuksa Temple are very important as they are the first to show surface decoration among the existing ancient sarira reliquaries in Korea. Decorations on all sides of the sarira reliquary first appeared in the artifacts made during the reign of the Sui Dynasty in China. Therefore, the surface decorations of the Mireuksa sarira reliquaries can be seen as having been influenced by the Sui Dynasty. However, the motifs that appear on the surface of the reliquaries are very different from those in China. The sarira reliquaries of the Sui Dynasty mainly depicted motifs related to the nirvana of Sakyamuni and Buddhist figures. On the other hand, Buddhist motifs like these do not appear at all in the Mireuksa sarira reliquaries. Instead, they are full of so-called ‘patterns’ such as lotus patterns, pearl patterns, vine patterns, palmette patterns etc. The composition and combination of these patterns are very similar to those of the Baekje 7th century halo excavated from Buyeo Busosan Fortress. The similarity with the pattern of the Buddha's halo reveals that the surface decoration of the Mireuksa sarira reliquaries had a symbolism similar to that of the halo. The halo is a representation of the sacredness of the Buddha's body and the light that is its manifestation. In other words, the surface decoration of the sarira reliquaries of Mireuksa Temple that contained the relics of the Buddha Sakyamuni is not a simple decorative pattern, but can be seen as an intensive expression of the “light and energy” that reveals the sacredness of the sarira. In ancient East Asia, “light and energy” were also representative motifs symbolizing auspiciousness. Therefore, the surface decoration of the sarira reliquaries at Mireuksa Temple can be seen as having a multi-layered meaning of “sacredness and auspiciousness.”