A Study on the Memorial stone of the Sumanotap in Jeongamsa Temple

정암사 수마노탑 탑지석(塔誌石) 연구

The memorial stones of Sumanotap were known to have been sequentially produced in 1719, 1773, 1874, 1653, 1874. However, after examining the chronological era (年號) and sexagesimal cycle (干支), it was found that the second and fourth memorial stones were both recorded in 1713. The reason why the records of the same period were divided into two is assumed that since the subject to repair was divided into main structure and flagpole of the temple, and it was recorded per each monk in charge and donator. On the fifth tablet of the memorial stone of Sumanotap contains all the names of monks who were in charge of repairing Sumanotap as well as the names of common donators. These people are not verified in detail though, through comparing the Buddhist names on the third memorial stone with Buddhist paintings and painting records, 12 monks were identified to be in the same names. Generally, they were active in Gangwon province, Gyeongsang province, Seoul and Gyeonggi province in the late 19th century and even after the Sumanotap repair, they took up other duties of various temples. The most notable name among the donators recorded in the memorial stones of Sumanotap was Kim Jwageun. He was the donator for the chest of gold and silver that was enshrined in the pagoda in 1874. His name was recorded with Mrs. Yang from Cheongsin and, at that time, was known just as a donator. However, actually, the donator was not Kim Jwageun but his mistress Mrs. Yang who used to be a gisaeng, called Na-hap and was from Naju. Kim Jwageun deceased in 1869 already. It is exceptional that Mrs. Yang who were the mistress of the prime minister Kim Jwageun personally participated in the Buddhist event in which king, queen, mothers of king and queen, noblewoman participated. Besides, the event of Sumanotap repair was carried out by royal family in order to celebrate the hundredth day of the prince, Sunjong and his grandfather, Heungseon Daewongun did not participate for political reason. In this situation, the domination of Mrs. Yang is considered remarkable. Meanwhile, the temples that frequently appeared among the 10 temples recorded in the memorial stone of Sumanotap are Gakhwa-sa temple in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Bodeok-sa temple in Yeongwolgun, Gangwon-do. Gakhwa-sa temple was a temple where the historical achievements were kept so was under the government's control. Bodeok-sa temple was the buddhist temple praying for the soul of the Danjong buried in the tomb and was managed by the government. Therefore, the face these two temples participated in the Sumanotap repair proves that Sumanotap was repaired by the supports form these two temples and the stature of Sumanotap at that time was as high as the temples where the historical achievements are store or the royal buddhist temples for praying for ancestors' souls.

수마노탑 탑지석은 1석부터 5석까지 차례로 1719년, 1773년, 1874년, 1653년, 1874년에 제작된 것으로 여겨져 왔다. 그러나 연호(年號)와 간지(干支)를 분석해본 결과, 제2석과 제4석 모두 1713년의 기록임을 알게 되었다. 동시기의 기록이 둘로 나눠진 것은, 중수대상을 탑신과 찰간으로 나누어 각기 소임을 맡은 이와 시주자를 기록한 것으로 파악하였다. 수마노탑 탑지석 5매에는 모두 중수불사의 역할을 맡은 승려들의 이름은 물론이고 일반인 시주자들의 이름이 기록되어 있다. 이중 법호법명(法號法名)으로 기록된 제3석의 승려들 이름을 19세기 후반 불사 기록과 비교하여 12명의 동명(同名)을 파악하였다. 이들 대부분이 수마노탑 중수불사 전후로 강원도 서울 경상북도 사불산 일대와 경남 해인사 등지에서 활약했다는 사실은, 당대 불사의 경향과 수마노탑의 위상을 시사하고 있다. 1874년 탑 내에 봉안된 금은합 시주자인 김좌근은 청신녀양씨와 함께 기록되어, 수마노탑 시주자 중 유일하게 알려진 인물이다. 그러나 실재는 그의 애첩, 나합이라 불리던 나주 출신 기생 양씨가 그의 사망 이후 시주한 것이다. 영의정을 지낸 김좌근의 애첩이던 양씨가 왕과 왕비 왕대비 대비 부대부인 등이 대거 참여한 불사에 개인적으로 참여했다는 점은 이례적이다. 더구나 1874년 수마노탑중수는 원자 즉 순종의 탄생 '백일'을 기념하기 위해 왕실에서 사적(私的)으로 이루어진 것이고, 할아버지인 흥선대원군의 이름은 보이지 않는다. 탑지석에 기록된 10여 곳의 사찰 중 빈번히 등장하는 곳은 경북 봉화의 각화사와 강원도 영월 보덕사이다. 각화사는 사고사찰(史庫寺刹)로서 조정의 관리대상이었고, 보덕사는 단종 능의 원찰로서 왕실에서 돌보는 곳이었다. 따라서 이 두 사찰이 수마노탑 중수 불사에 참여했다는 기록은 이 두 사찰의 조력으로 수마노탑이 중수되었다는 점과 당시 수마노탑의 위상이 사고사찰이나 능침수호사찰 못지 않았음을 의미한다.