The Dhāraṇī Coffin from the Nongso Tomb and the Cult of Shattering Hell during the Koryŏ Dynasty

Inscriptions of Buddhist mantras and dhāraṇīs were interred in Chinese tombs on behalf the deceased from Tang dynasty onward as fear postmortem judgment punishment ten courts hell became firmly rooted. This notion afterlife practice enclosing dhāraṇī inscriptions seem to have been received by Korean Buddhists beginning Koryŏ (918–1392). paper, through a close examination wooden inner coffin excavated 2014 tomb Nongso-myŏn, Ullim-ri, Sunch’ang-gun, North Chŏlla Province Korea, sheds new light use funerary objects structures during Koryŏ. The bears, its lacquered exterior walls, Mantra Six-Syllable King Great Clarities (Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ) for Shattering Hell karadeya svāhā). While defining Nongso Tomb one form dhāraṇī, this paper situates it historical trajectory such comparing with Liao (916–1125) precedents. coffins attest that made promising salvation their lifetime beyond. study shows two different kinds dhāraṇīs, which are similarly named believed power shattering hell, practiced Buddhists. It also proposes svāhā) may transmitted peninsula part food bestowal ritual before incorporation into context.