The circumambulation corridor as the ritual space: Buddhist pagodas of Goguryeo in Korea and Southern and Northern Dynasties in China during the 5th–6th century

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn China, the remains of early Buddhist temples from five ruins have been confirmed to be from the 5th to 6th century of Southern and Northern Dynasties period, while in Korea, four Goguryeo ruins have been found. During this period, the pagoda was the most central structure in a temple, and main rituals were performed by circling around the pagoda; circumambulation. The aim of this paper was to show how the circumambulation corridor was confirmed as well as how the space was structured and planned by comparing data from the excavated ruins in ancient Korea and China. At the Chinese pagoda sites, there is evidence of a circumambulation corridor with a width of around 3 m and a floor paved with bricks materials. The wooden structure of the corridor was installed separately to the central structure of the pagoda. In addition, at the Goguryeo sites, the fact that this outer foundation layer is only found in pagodas supports such a hypothesis. It is postulated that the upper area of the corridor was covered with a sunshade and that the floor would have been paved for circumambulation rituals. As a result, the circumambulation corridor was planned separately from the pagoda as the ritual space.