스리랑카 탈팟(Talpat) 전통과 필사본 연구(2) - 야자수 잎 가공과정과 필사작업을 중심으로 -

초록

This article analyses the Sri Lankan Palm-leaf Manuscript tradition called Talpat. Within Sri Lanka, the Talpat tradition has been preserved by a limited number of experts, while the traditional production process is gradually diminishing or undergoing simplification. However, this production process has become an important factor both in the ritual aspect of Sri Lankan Buddhism and in terms of folk beliefs or worships. This paper examines in detail through local data and researches the structure and characteristics of the manuscript production process whoch have been handed down only inside Sri Lanka. The process of making Talpat begins with collecting and processing palm leaves. This process only limited palm leaves on a designated date is a kind of religious ceremony that reflects the religious life of ancient Sri Lankans who respect nature and believe in the gods of the trees in them. The process of putting the collected leaves together with various medicinal ingredients, boiling, drying and cutting them into standard sizes contains the desire to safely preserve and transmit the manuscript, which will become a Buddhist script in the future, and is also a very example of the advanced scientific level of ancient Sri Lanka. Transcribing on those processed palm leaves is done only by experienced professionals who have gone through a certain period of education. In particular, the Talpat tradition has various unique letter-forms (Akshara), which seems to have been selected according to the scribe and the region of production and the type of manuscript. After that, the coloring and finishing works that make the transcribed letters stand out will be followed by traditional rituals and procedures. Apart from the advanced printing techniques of modern society, this understanding of the Talpat tradition provides a new approach to understanding Sri Lankan unique Buddhist culture.

키워드