Hand of the 42-armed Avalokiteśvara Holding A Skull Rod.

Abstract

The skull most commonly symbolizes death, mortality, and the unachievable nature of immortality. However, in Korean Buddhist art, skulls are rarely found. The aim of this study was to explore the image and meaning of the skull in the Joseon dynasty (1392 to 1910) of Korea. The terms [Buddhist] and [painting] and [Korea] were used to search Google (www.google.com), and the Research Information Sharing Service of Korea (https://www-riss-kr-ssl.openlink), was also searched for [Buddhism] () and [art] () and [skull] (). This study focused on paintings or statues of Avalokiteśvara because Avalokiteśvara was often depicted holding various items in the hands, especially the multiarmed Avalokiteśvara. The corresponding Buddhist texts were searched on "Archives of Buddhist Culture" (http://kabc.dongguk.edu). In the paintings and statues of the 42-armed Sahasra-bhuja Avalokiteśvara, one of the hands was holding a skull rod. In the royal version of the "Five Great Dhārāṇis Collection ()," which was published in 1458, a skull was found in a rod held by a 42-armed Avalokiteśvara. This corresponds to one of the verses of the "42-Hand Mantras" (Om dhuna vajra ha). The purpose of the mantra was to communicate with and manipulate ghosts. The meaning in the original Susiddhikara Sutra is quite different from the 42-Hand Mantras in the Joseon dynasty of Korea. The reason for this difference is thought to be the merger of esoteric Buddhism with the folk religions of China and Korea.