불전에는 희귀하고, 빛나고, 청정하며, 강하고 불변하는 최상의 존재로서 보석을 자주 언급한다. 불전에서 보석은 대상을 빛내고 장엄하는 메타포로 쓰이는 경우뿐 아니라 다양한 유형의 보석이 등장한다. 유무형의 보(寶) 일반을 가리키는 원어가 라트나(ratna)인 반면 유형의 보석은 마니(maṇi)가 주로 쓰인다.
이 보석들은 크게 7보와 4보로 분류된다. 7보는 금ㆍ은ㆍ유리ㆍ수정(파리)ㆍ차거ㆍ적진주, 마노이고, 4보는 다이아몬드ㆍ에메랄드ㆍ사파이어ㆍ루비이다. 7보에서 금ㆍ은ㆍ유리ㆍ수정은 따로 4보로서 자주 언급되는데, 이것과 뒤의 4보(다이아몬드ㆍ에메랄드ㆍ사파이어ㆍ루비)와는 다르다. 그 이유는 불전이 발생한 시대와 지역에 따라 유통되던 보석이 달랐던 것에서 기인한 것으로 보인다. 7보의 개념은 불교의 발생지인 웃다르 프라데쉬(Uttar Pradesh)의 카필라바스투(Kapilavastu) 지역에서 형성되었고, 4보(다이아몬드ㆍ에메랄드ㆍ사파이어ㆍ루비)는 후대의 인도 남부지역에서 유통되어 각광받은 보석이다.
초기불전에서는 승려들의 보석 소지나 착용이 금지되었던 데 비해 대승과 밀교에서는 보살의 보석ㆍ영락의 착용이 많이 발견된다. 이런 대승의 탄생 이후 보석의 중시는 힌두 문화의 유입으로 인하여 다양한 의례와 수행에서 보석을 활용하는 데 이르렀기 때문으로 보인다. 밀교에서는 7보와 4보뿐만 아니라, 여의주와 같은 신화적인 보석 또한 의례와 관상에 이용되었다.
In Buddhism, Jewels are often mentioned as being rare, shiny, clean, strong, and unchangeable. In Buddhism, jewelry is not only used as a metaphor for glowing and majestic objects, but there are also various types. While the original word used to describe these jewels is ‘Ratna’, they are usually referred to by the term ‘Mani’. These gems are largely classified into groups of 7 and 4. Amongst the group of the 7 treasures are gold, silver, glass, crystal, chalcedony, red pearl, and agate, while the group of 4 consists of diamond, emerald, sapphire, and ruby. Gold, silver, glass, and crystals of the original 7 are often referred to as the 4 jewels, which are different from the group of 4 consisting of diamond, emerald, sapphire, and ruby. This distinction between the jewels seems to be attributed to the difference in jewels that were distributed according to the age and area in which the Buddha was born. The concept of 7 treasures was formed in the Kapila Bath area of Uddar Pradesh, the birthplace of Buddhism however the four jewels (diamond, emerald, sapphire and ruby) later became the focus of attention in southern India. In the early Buddhist period, Buddhist monks were prohibited from wearing jewelry. It seems that the importance of the gems has come about in various ceremonies, which have been passed on through the influx of Hindu culture. In esoteric Buddhism, not only the jewels that haven been described here are used, but also mythical jewels known as Yeoju are used in ritual practices.
In Buddhism, Jewels are often mentioned as being rare, shiny, clean, strong, and unchangeable. In Buddhism, jewelry is not only used as a metaphor for glowing and majestic objects, but there are also various types. While the original word used to describe these jewels is ‘Ratna’, they are usually referred to by the term ‘Mani’. These gems are largely classified into groups of 7 and 4. Amongst the group of the 7 treasures are gold, silver, glass, crystal, chalcedony, red pearl, and agate, while the group of 4 consists of diamond, emerald, sapphire, and ruby. Gold, silver, glass, and crystals of the original 7 are often referred to as the 4 jewels, which are different from the group of 4 consisting of diamond, emerald, sapphire, and ruby. This distinction between the jewels seems to be attributed to the difference in jewels that were distributed according to the age and area in which the Buddha was born. The concept of 7 treasures was formed in the Kapila Bath area of Uddar Pradesh, the birthplace of Buddhism however the four jewels (diamond, emerald, sapphire and ruby) later became the focus of attention in southern India. In the early Buddhist period, Buddhist monks were prohibited from wearing jewelry. It seems that the importance of the gems has come about in various ceremonies, which have been passed on through the influx of Hindu culture. In esoteric Buddhism, not only the jewels that haven been described here are used, but also mythical jewels known as Yeoju are used in ritual practices.