• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.30
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• pp.47-70
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• 2023

In 2019, the first excavation survey was conducted at the Temple Site No. 4 of Yaksugok Vally in Namsan Mountain, Gyeongju to determine the original location of the headless stone Buddha statue and the structure of the temple site. The survey excavated a stone Buddha head that was confirmed in a comparative analysis to be petrologically and mineralogically identical to a headless stone seated Buddha statue found derelict nearby. Traces of gold leaf and black adhesive were found on a portion of the right side of the face of the Buddha head buried in the ground. Since it is exceedingly rare for lacquer and gilding techniques to have been applied to a large stone Buddha statue without a base layer, this study examines the gilding techniques of the time by analyzing the characteristics of the materials used. In this process, the structure of the gold foil was observed through analytical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and the gold (Au) component was identified. As a result of analyzing the black adhesive using pyrolysis-gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry (pyrolysis-GC/MS), pyrolysis compounds such as hydrocarbons, fatty acids, catechol, and catechol oxidation products were detected. This was identical to the characteristics identified upon analyzing lacquer collected from species of lacquer tree whose main component is urushiol. Therefore, it was confirmed that the stone Buddha head excavated from the Temple Site No. 4 of Yaksugok Valley was separated from a nearby stone seated Buddha statue, and that the gold foil was attached using lacquer sap collected from lacquer trees, which grow in Korea, China, and Japan.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.8
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• pp.3-11
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• 2007

There is a Seated Stone Bhaishajyaguru-Vaidurya Buddha (Medicine Buddha) which was moved from Yongjang-gye in the garden of Gyeongju National Museum. The head was cemented on the body of the statue in 1974 before its display. Recently, we have done another conservation work on the statue because microbes and the other contaminants have built up on the surface and the restored part of the statue has loosened again. By taking r-ray pictures, we have checked the structure of the statue, especially the connected part and removed old materials used for the previous restoration. We reinforced the cracked parts, cleaned the surface, and then restored the statue. We finished the conservation process by adjusting the color.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.123-138
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• 2004

This study was to investigate the planting arrangement of ornamental trees and shrubs that leads to an appropriate, type of templescape. Temples sampled for this study were Woljonsa, Sineunsa, Sinreugsa and Mitasa which fall all under the category of the level land. The results obtained were as follows : Open space of Daewoongjeon in all temples, a main Sanctuary among temple buildings, where Buddha is enshrined in, we could not find any kinds of trees/shrubs to be planted. But tere were Acer mono, Acer planmatum, Crataegus pinnatifidam Raododendron poukhanense, Texus cuspidata and Buxus mincrophylla to be planted, before Jeokkwangjeon, in which Buddha is exceptionally enshrined. In Geugragjeon of both temples of Sinheunsa and Sinreugsa, and Elysium building and Muryangsujeon of Woljeongsa temple, an immeasurable bliss building, in which an Amitabha is enshrined. was Taxus cuspidata planted numerously found. Particularly, Josadang, Muryangsujeon and Samsungkag of Woljeongsa temple commonly had Sciadopiys verticillata, which is known as one of Japanese-favorite trees. Syinga oblata Lindaley was also observed at Jeokkwangjeon of Woljeongsa temple and Keungnakjon of Sinheungsa temple, and Vidurnun opulus var. calvesvens, a symbolic flower tree imaging Buddha's head, was planted in Myungboojeon of Sinheungsa temple and Keugnakjeon of Sinreugsa temple. Juniperus chinensis which could be observed in both temples Sinheunsa and Sinreugsa was well arranged enough to be easily captured by human's eyes. In terms of templescape that might be considered in templescape, the correlation between trees/shrubs and temple buildings was thoroughly discussed. And, with the results obtained through precise studies, we presented here in this paper newly designed model of templescape in level land buddhist temples which is possibly applied for planting and arrangement of trees or/and shrubs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-70
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• 2016

Korean temple gardens have very high preservation value as the place reflecting ancestral wisdom in harmony with nature. Not only as a religious place but also as a beautiful landscape place, many people including foreigners are visiting traditional Korean temples. However, current many Korean temple gardens lost their original value and meaning because of the inappropriate planting in traditional places. In this study, for maintaining the representativeness of traditional Korean temple, we researched the current planting status of traditional Korean temple. After the research of 51 traditional Korean temples, a total of 207 species of plants was investigated, and among them 128 species (61.84%) were Korean native plants, 76 species (36.71%) were cultivar plants, 2 species (0.97%) were naturalized plants, and 1 species (0.48%) is introduced plant. Korean red pine (46 temples), sawleaf zelkova (38 temples), and ginkgo (36 temples) were the high rank species among 207 species. Korean rare plants including black-fruit hackberry and Korean fir form 5.3% of total species, and Korean endemic plants including Korean weigela and Korean paulownia form 3.4% of total species in traditional Korean temples. On the other hand, plants that have religious meaning such as lotus, musa, and guelder rose form slightly. There is a higher proportion of traditional Korean plants than religious meaning plants in traditional temple gardens, so that temple gardens are highlighted as historic places. Based on the planting status, maintenance plans were established reflecting characteristics of each spaces: entry space, the precincts of a shrine, and flower stairs. As a result, we suggest that selecting a suitable plant species with regard to the religious meaning of the plant symbolism for newly designing Korean temple gardens.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-81
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• 2004

It is the purpose of this study to arrange in ornamental trees and shrubs the planting that leads to an appropriate type of templescape. The study was designed primarily as an examples for each Buddhist temple which desires further decoration with several ornamental plants, doubles the effectiveness of the Sen-Buddhist meditation, and boosts tourists' attraction. To investigate the planting status and type of trees and shrubs in the precincts of Buddhism temples, We close three temples : They are Nagsansa, Boolgoogsa and Booseugsa, which are intermonatane area temples all together. The results investigated were summarized as follows :1. Planting status and pattern in temples Open spaces of the Daewoogjeon in all temples, a main Sanctuaries in temple buildings, where Buddha is enshrined in, we could not find any kind of trees of shrubs to be planted.Muryangsujeon, a symbol of "Future", which can be also found at Boosugsa temple, is living in Western Elysium world and takes mercy on mankind of this life. Taxus cuspidata was planted at this Muryangsujeon, known as an immeasurable bliss building, where an Amitabha is enshrined in.Total 25 species of trees and shrubs were planted around Birozani building of Buddhist temples, Birozani is enshrined at the Birojion of Boollgoogsa temple.The buddhist Goddess of Mercy which is a buddhist saint for pursuit of fortune and blessing to relieve the mankind is enshrined at Wonchonjeon, Daebijeon and Kwaneumjeon which are able to observe at both Boolgoogsa and Nagsnsa temples, where Euonymus japonicus trees including other 26 species could be found in common at both temples.2. Correlation between trees/shrubs and temple buildingsTrees and flowers symbolizing Buddha are often planted as material sources of gardening to decorate : They are Logerstroemia indica as Buddha's flower, Viburmum opulus var. calvescens resembling Buddha's head, Tilia mandshurica producing the beads of rosary, Gardenia jaminoides Ellis with white flower blade and flower of bliss, not flower to this day and Lotus flowering clearly in the pond filling with dirty water which is able to clarifies the world full of crime, infidelity and injustification. Among these Buddhist' plants, however, Logerstroemia indica could be found in all three temples, and Viburmum opulus var. calvescens at both Nagsansa and Boosugsa. Also, Lager stroemia indica was planted at all three temples and Viburmum opulus var. calvescens at both temples of Nagsansa and Boosugsa. Tilia mandshurica and Gardenia jasminoides Ellis were not found in any temples which might become the subject of investigation.In relation of the buildings of each temples as a sanctified space, the planting of trees and shrubs was not considered for the arrangement, templescape architecture or species. And, also, we could not find in the study any special relationship of trees/ shrubs with the characteristics of temples.With the results obtained through precise studies we presented here in this paper newly designed model of templescape in intermane buddhist temple which can be applied for planting and arrangement of trees or/and shrubs. Basic principles of model in mind are:To consider the correlation of the dominant between plants and temple buildings.To plant trees/shrubs for special functions as well as conditions of temple location.To make tree arrangement correlating to Buddhism spirit.To induce environment friendly plants to be planted, suitable to regional conditions.This redecorated model of templescape might be used as a canon of the tree planting and arrangement in the precincts of Buddhism temples.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.242-281
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• 2010

There are a large number of Buddhist cultural relics in Mt. Namsan. The cultural relics carry the spirit of people of Shila who dream of Buddhist Elysium and the establishment of Buddhist nation. In the valley and the top of the mountain and on various rock cliff, stone statues of Buddha and stone pagodas stand in harmony with nature. For that reason, Mt. Namsan is called an open-air museum. And it played an important role in establishing 'The UNESCO World Heritage' status for Gyeongdju in December 2000. But sadly, there are many stone relics that have eroded away and damaged from collapsing in the passage of time. The seated stone statue of Buddha in Samreoung valley of Mt. Namsan is one of them. It was created between the 8th and 9th century, and restored without much care nor extensive historical research in 1923. As a result, The face of the Buddha remained with concrete mortar and its nimbus fallen backward and destroyed. Therefore, restoration and repair as well as creation of a statue environment for the statue were urgent. So we immediately started in restoration and repair. First, through the archaeological excavation around the stone Buddha, we carried the stone Buddha on the original position. In order to restore the statues to its original glory created by the Unified Shila Dynasty, we created a restoration plan in corporation with art historians and historians, then restored the jaw and the damage nimbus. Second, we made the weathering & damage map of the stone Buddha. In order to prevent second damage, we cleaned the surface of contaminants with distilled water. Third, we studied restoration method to prevent artificial damage. We recreated parts of his face and halo. Then each parts of the statue were restored to their original position. In the whole process of restoration, we tried to use traditional techniques.