두 나가(Nāga)와 빔비사라왕 설화 연구

• 영문명: A Study on the Buddhist Folktale,“Two Nāgas and King Bimbisāra”
• 발행기관: 불교학연구회
• 저자명: 박청환(Park Cheonghwan)
• 간행물 정보: 『불교학연구』제19호, 323~347쪽, 전체 25쪽
• 주제분류: 인문학 > 불교학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2008.04.30

영문 초록

  In Indian folk tradition, n？gas serve as fierce guardians of the waters and of the abundance that lies beneath the earth. Besides, n？gas play a positive role in Buddhist accounts. A number of j？taka stories record the n？gas’ generosity toward the Bodhisattva while others show their gratitude for receiving religious instruction.
  This story of Bimbis？ra and the two n？gas is a good example of how the M？lasarv？stiv？din Vinaya re-organizes the story based on the Indian folk tradition in which both king and n？ga take important roles.
  Regarding the relation between Buddhism and n？ga beliefs, establishing a relation to n？ga belief was the primary concern of Indian religions. In spite of all the patronage of A？oka and the glorious accounts of the popularity of Buddhism in Kashmir, the fact remains that Buddhism had to face a strong opposition in the country from the established belief in n？ga-worship. N？ga beliefs were quite common in India when Buddhism made its appearance and that is the reason why the legend of n？gas and their conversion by the Buddha occur occasionally in the Buddhist texts.
  Bimbis？ra’s character is described negatively in this story, in contrast with other texts, where from his first d？na to the Buddha until the time of his death, a period of thirty-seven years, he does all in his power to help the new religion. In the beginning of the story, Bimbisra does not respect the Buddha. The negative description of Bimbis？ra is designed to produce conflict in the story. Furthermore, this negative description of the king maximizes the dramatic conflict,
  Although the conflict is between the two n？gas and Bimbis？ra, it is noteworthy that the reason for their conflict is the Buddha. The two ‘orderers of existence’ are presumed to be equal under the Buddha. It becomes clear that the Buddha intervenes in this traditional relationship, yet he still keeps his sense of distance.
  In this story, the conflict between Bimbis？ra and the two n？ga kings is noteworthy because as n？gas are guardians of water and of abundance, and Bimbis？ra represents the highest worldly power both parties are dependent upon each other.
  Another interesting point in this story is that it shows how Buddhism as a new religious movement, established its relation to the folk tradition. The Buddha asserts his superiority over other gods and kingship and while the older deities and kingship continue to function under the Buddha’s superiority both the n？gas and Bimbis？ra ask for the Buddha’s teaching, and, at the same time, they are in trouble.
  To adapt the story as a Buddhist narrative, the M？lasarv？stiv？dins intervene at almost every stage of the story. Without directly intervening between them, in other words, and so retaining the sense of withdrawal, the Buddha behaves as a supreme guarantor of the cosmic order by resolving the conflict between the n？gas and Bimbis？ra. This clearly shows how Buddhism wants to be accepted in the Indian folk tradition.

목차

Ⅰ. 들어가는 말
Ⅱ. 내용분석
Ⅲ. 구조분석과 의미
Ⅳ. 맺는 말

키워드

근본설일체유부비나야(M？lasarv？stiv？din Vinaya) 나가(n？ga) 빔비사라(Bimbis？ra) 민간전통(folk tradition) 왕권(kingship) 내러티브(narrative)