Talismans (<i>pujok</i> (sic)) forRebirthinChoson Buddhist Rituals and their Earlier Traces in China

Abstract

This article examines the significance of pujok (sic), commonly referred to as talismans, within diverse Choson rituals spanning antemortem to postmortem practices, as well as image-making ceremonies, with a specific emphasis on talismans for rebirth in the Pure Land. Drawing on previously unexplored talismans found in graves and statues, this article explores how these rebirth talismans were stamped on clothing for burial, attached to coffins, burned during the antemortem Yesujae (sic) ritual, orally consumed in chants, and even enshrined in newly made Buddhist statues through the pokchang ritual. This research identifies two distinct rebirth talisman types-the "Seal of the Pure Land" and the "Talisman for Pure Land Rebirth"-each originating from different periods and serving distinct ritual functions. The "Seal of the Pure Land," with earlier examples traceable to medieval Dunhuang manuscripts, was extensively used in late Koryo and Choson. In contrast, the "Talisman for Pure Land Rebirth" emerged as amulets meant for oral consumption during the Ten-Thousand-Day Assembly (Manirhoe (sic)) ritual in the eighteenth century, and it was later adopted in other rituals during the Choson period. Through an analysis of seemingly mundane objects, this study uncovers a rich tapestry of Buddhist practices spanning western China and the Korean Peninsula, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of Choson Buddhist rituals and their broader cultural significance.