• Journal of architectural history
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.47-66
• /
• 2007

$Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ are understood as the deities of four directions in Buddhism: $Dhrtar{\bar{a}}stra$ in the East, $Vir{\bar{u}}dhaka$ in the South, $Vir{\bar{u}}p{\bar{a}}ksa$ in the West and $Vai{\acute{s}}ravana$ in the North respectively. Their common name is, therefore, called as the "Four Guardian Kings", whose function is to prevent demonic forces from entering into its sacred world. Although the position of $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ is to the lowest level in the hierarchy of the minor deities in Buddhism, the cult of $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ was widely spread and prominent in the countries of Northern Buddhism. It played a significant role in terms of the state-protecting Buddhism, on behalf of it's esoteric and magic power. More than 20 Gateways of the $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ and $Lokap{\bar{a}}la$ statues were still well preserved in Korea, and they were believed to be constructed after the Japanese attack in 1592. After war, monks had concentrated on restoring ruined temples and building many new Gateways of the Four Guardian Kings over the Korean peninsular. Under such circumstances, even though the $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ played a significant role as the subject of cult in Korean Buddhism. they might have a small chance to be taught traditional Lama iconography exactly. The purpose of this essay is to examine the relation of orientation of the Gate way of $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ and allocation of each Kings inside the gate.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.250-273
• /
• 2020

The three-story stone pagodas in Hyeon-ri and Hwacheon-ri,Yeongyang Gyeongsangbuk-do are stone pagodas that exhibit the typical style of Unified Silla. The two pagodas are believed to have been built in the mid- and late 9th centuries at the latest, considering the style of the three-story roof stone on top of the double-tier base. This is also confirmed by the reliefs carved at the base and the first-story of the pagoda. The Four Heavenly Kings and the Twelve Zodiacal Animal Deities were first combined in the late 8th century in the stone pagoda at the Wonwonsa Temple Site, and the Eight Classes of Divine Beings was also the most popular carved pagoda reliefs in the 9th century. However, the two Yeongyang stone pagodas are characterized by a combination of the Four Heavenly Kings (1st story), the Eight Classes (top base), and the Twelve Zodiacal Animals (lower base), and the stone used for the pagoda consists of sedimentary rocks of the sandstone family, which comprise most of the geological strata in the Yeongyang area, rather than ordinary granite. The new combinations of the three types of guardian deities and the Eight Classes changed from seated to standing poses is interpreted as an attempt to enhance the Buddhist faith and cultural status of the Yeongyang area, along with the fact that the stone pagoda was built using local natural materials. The Eight Classes of the Yeongyang stone pagoda does not follow the two types of arrangement of the pagodas with the Eight Classes, but some of the deities have been relocated to a new location. Composed of AsuraGandharva on the east side, Naga-Mahoraga on the south, Deva-Garuda on the west, and Kimnara-Yaksa on the north, this form can be classified as a unique 'third layout of the Eight Classes' in the Yeongyang area. Such changes in the shape and posture of the reliefs reflect a new perception of the pagodas. The reason why the Gandharva and Yaksa statues were carved on the east and north sides, respectively, was because they were deemed subordinate to the Four Heavenly Kings, and the fact that the Naga and the Mahoraga were carved on the south side was presumed to have influenced the geographical location of the two pagodas on the northern side of Banbyeoncheon Stream. The Hyeon-ri and Hwacheon-ri three-story stone pagodas inherited the tradition of typical Unified Silla-period pagodas, while also bearing their own new regional characteristics.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 2017

The stone lantern of the four guardian kings in the Beopjusa temple at Boeun was mainly made of biotite granodiorite consisting of porphyritic-textured potassium feldspar and included in ilmenite series. A base stone made of alkali granite was buried, after founded its place during an earlier restoration process. Cracking and break out are noticeable on this object. In addition, discoloration, salt crusting, and epiphytes were observed. The lantern was vulnerable in terms of physical and structural stability caused by cracking in the front and back of the light chamber and in the non-horizontal direction. According to the conservational condition of the stone lantern, structural reinforcement was carried out based on calculations, including those on the position, size, and anchor length of the titanium stiffener. Chemical and biological pollutants were washed off without damage to the surface of the stone material. Oxygenated iron pieces were replaced with titanium. Ethyl silicate was applied to the surface of the lantern for consolidation and smooth drainage.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.64-78
• /
• 2023

This article examines the background and meaning of the construction of Josadang Hall in Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju, by Seolsan Cheonhee(1307~1382) in the late 14th century through the characteristics of the hall's mural. Six guardian deities(the Four Heavenly Kings in the center, Indra and Brahma on each side of the kings) are depicted on the southern wall(location of the entrance) of the Josadang, facing the statue of the great monk Uisang(625~702 AD) on the north wall. This mural is the oldest among Korean temple murals and exhibits very unique characteristics. In general, scenes from the scriptures are depicted on the back wall of the central statue. In contrast, the Josadang mural depicts only the guardian deities facing the main statue with no scene description. The appearance of the deities, who seem to protect the main statue of the monk Uisang, and their expressions, as if drawn from relief statues, are not seen in other murals. Nevertheless, it is similar to the stupas of the Seon(Ch. Chan 禪) sect monks established from the late Silla(57 BC~935 AD) through early Goryeo(918~1392 AD), with guardian deities on their surface. The iconography of the deities is a classic form of the late Silla to early Goryeo. The fact that the Josadang was built to commemorate Uisang, who founded the Korean Hwaeom sect(Ch. Huayan sect, 華嚴宗), and that guardians were placed to protect Uisang's statue reveals the concept of worship for the monk who founded the sect. As a result, the reason Cheonhee built the hall can also be understood as an extension of the ideology behind the construction of the stupas of the Seon sect monks. The problem, however, is that Cheonhee is a monk of the Hwaeom sect, and Buseoksa is a representative temple of the Hwaeom sect, not the Seon sect. Therefore, to better understand the background of the hall's construction, this article examined the situation of Goryeo Buddhism in the 14th century as well as the activities of Seolsan Cheonhee. Since Ganhwa Seon(Ch. Kanhua Chan, 看話禪) was dominant in the 14th century, Cheonhee went to study in the Yuan Dynasty(1271~1368 AD) at the age of 58 and was approved by Chinese Ganhwaseon monks before taking the position of Guksa(國師 national monk). However, he was eventually pushed to Buseoksa Temple, where he worked hard to rebuild it. Cheonhee most likely sought to expand the Hwaeom sect, which had been shrinking compared to the Seon sect, by enhancing power with the reconstruction of Buseoksa. The desire that the Hwaeom sect, which was losing its power due to the rise of the Seon sect in the 14th century, attempted to develop it by building Josadang hall, is well revealed by the Josadang murals.

• Journal of architectural history
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.69-82
• /
• 2012

This study is basically about four-guardian-statutes-building-gate in 17th Century. In the field of art-history, there are four-guardian-statutes made of clay in order that the statutes are so gigantic and grotesque enough to threaten all the devils. This purpose of this study is to make sure that the similar variation occurred at the four-guardian-statutes-building-gate in 17th century. The results of this study are as follows. First, only Da-Po style four-guardian-statutes-building-gates were built in famous four temples separately from 1612 until the Manchu war of 1636. And there are gigantic four-guardian-statutes made of clay in the building. Second, there are Chul-mok Ik-gong style buildings were built in 1660s at Bo-Rim-Sa and Neung-Ga-Sa. The buildings including four-guardian-statutes-building-gate of Song-gwang-sa built in 1636 probably are all similar to earlier Da-Po style four-guardian-statutes-building-gates in the viewpoint of structural type and size of building. Third, it began to build Ik-gong style four-guardian-statutes-building-gates in 1676 at Su-ta-sa.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.80-99
• /
• 2012

It is known that there are two Gabong taesil (shrine for King's umbilical cord) of King Danjong, the 6th king of Joseon, remaining today. One of them is Mt. Sogok in Sacheon-city, Gyeongsangnam-do and the other is Mt. Beomnim in Seongju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The academic sector argued about this matter as there cannot be two Gabong taesil for one king. I once argued that Taesil on Mt. Beomnim in Seongju is King Danjong's Gabong taesil and Danjong taesil in Sacheon is the one for Prince Inseongdaegun, the eldest son of King Yejong. At that time, however, I had not examined the archaeological relics found in these places. In result of making an archaeological approach, I have come to the following conclusions :1. King Danjong had two Taesil : Agi taesil(shrine for baby's umbilical cord) and Gabong taesil. The first Agi taesil was created on Taebong of Mt. Seonseok in Seongju on November 26, 1441, but was moved to Mt. Beomnim in Seongju in 1451 to form the second Agi taesil. In 1458, King Sejo eliminated his Taesil. The stone structures of Gabong taesil still remains on Taebong of Mt. Beomnim, so it has been assumed that King Danjong established them during his reign (1452-1455). 2. Taesil in Sacheon has been known as King Danjong's Taesil because of King Danjong's reinstatement during the reign of King Sukjong. His Taesil was repaired with the reinstatement and King Sukjong was mistaken that Taesil in Sacheon was King Danjong's Taesil to fix it. The time of restoration has been assumed to be soon after the restoration of King Danjong's tomb (1699-1719). Taesil is missing the book of records and rails around the stone structure because the tombs of reinstated kings were restored without rails. 3. It is incorrect that Taesil in Sacheon was known as King Danjong's Taesil, It has been concluded that this Taesil was for Prince Inseongdaegun who was born in 1462. I focused on the fact that Prince Inseongdaegun's Taesil was in Seosamneung Taesil instead of King Danjong's Taesil. When Yiwangjik stored King Danjong's Taesil in Seoul in 1928 and moved it to Seosamneung in 1930, he found that the epitaph on the tombstone recorded that it was Prince Inseongdaegun, not King Danjong, and created Prince Inseongdaegun's Taesil in Seosamneung. I referred to "Taebong", which was created when Seosamneung Taesil was built during the Japanese imperial rule over Joseon, and the relics found in Taesil in Sacheon and Seosamneung.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2022

Since the discovery of the inscriptions engraved with the "Chinese characters of Empress Wu(則天文字)" at 251 and 256-1, Seonjin-ri, Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do in 2003, researchers from the Gyeongnam Institute of Cultural Properties, Kwak Seung-Hoon, and Kim Chang-Gyeom have attempted to read and interpret the inscriptions. However, there are still different theories as to the origin of the "Chinese characters of Empress Wu" appearing in the inscriptions and the use of Idu(吏讀)-type notation. This study aims to clarify, this inscription was erected by the king of Silla in the late 7th and mid-8th centuries to commemorate his participation in the Sacheon and Jinju patrols and Buddhist activities, and it is revealed that the main character of the inscription is likely to be King Seongdeok who has visited southern countries. In addition, in the case of "上了言", which has been interpreted as a human name, it should be understood as an Idu-type notation or a 變體漢文 because of the use of the proposition 了, and it should be interpreted as a character that means the end of a specific act. Although it is not a religious text like 『Mugujeonggwangdaedaranigyeong (The Great Dharani Sutra)』, the reason why the "Chinese characters of Empress Wu(則天文字)" was used is that in the process of accepting the Huayan school, the royal family of Silla came into contact with the Buddhist scriptures of the period of the Empress Wu, which is closely related to the rise of the Huayan school in the Middle Ages, and it appears to have learned and used in this process.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.4-39
• /
• 2009

The foundations of ancient wooden pagoda consist of the stylobate soil, exteriors, stairways and etc. The factors were different according to the time, region and the architects. As a result of many archaeological researches, we have the data of horizontal gutters as a part of the foundations of ancient wooden pagodas in Gogureyo, China, Japan. But so far archaeological researches have not revealed such data in Baekje and Silla~Unified Silla period wooden pagodas. In genarally, the eaves must protrude as much as the outer line of the foundation to protect its upper side from rain. The purpose of the aforementioned horizontal gutter was to protect the foundations of ancient wooden pagodas. In this article, we call this horizontal gutter the Naksubaji. After researching many archaeological findings of ancient wooden pagodas of China, Korea and Japan from 5th century to 7th century, it is suggested that the Naksubaji was installed to wooden pagodas of Baekje period in 6th century and Silla~Unified Silla periods in 7th century. In wooden pagodas of Baekje period in 6th century, Naksubajis were found in wooden pagodas of Gunsurisaji temple site, Neungsanrisaji temple site, Wangheungsaji temple site. Especially in case of the Wangheungsaji temple site, presumed line to make stylobate of wooden pagoda in Baekje period was confirmed by archaeological research and this case is similar to the early period wooden pagodas in Japan. Goryeocheok(ruler used in the Three Kingdoms) was used to construct wooden pagodas. According to the restoration plan of wooden pagodas to verify the protrusion of eaves, the ratio of the length of the foundation:the length of 1st storied building:the length of the center:the length of the corner was 4.9:2.7:1:0.9 between Gunsurisaji temple site pagoda and Wangheungsaji temple site pagoda. Also I found tne same length of tne 1st storied building between Gunsurisaji temple site pagoda and Wangheungsaji temple site pagoda. Therefore the exact scales and planning were adapted to the establishment of wooden pagodas in 6th century in Baekje period. But the Naksubaji was not producted after 6th century in Baekje period. Because the big wooden pagoda had been appeared, they were needed other style of the foundation. In wooden pagodas which were made in Silla~Unified Silla periods in 7th century, I found the Naksubaji in wooden pagodas in Youngmyosajl temple site, Hwangnyongsaji temple site, Sacheonwangsa temple site. The line of stone in Youngmyosajl temple site, the 2nd line expressed the area of pagoda, the relative analysis of the lower foundation between Neungsanrisaji temple site pagoda and Sacheonwangsa temple site pagoda were examined the Naksubaji. In Silla~Unified Silla periods, the establishment of wooden pagodas was started at 7th century. So they had the exactly details of wooden pagoda, but we had no data of the Naksubaji after the time made Sacheonwangsa temple site.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.122-147
• /
• 2012

The Four-guardian statues in Song-gwang buddhist temple, Suncheon, Korea, have been remade in AD 1628 and have been repaired and repainted over several times since then. Therefore, the study of the pigments applied on the statues can provide good chance for investigation about pigments used in the late Chosun Period. Pigments on fragments from Gwang-mok(Virupaksha), one of the Four-guardian statues, have been analyzed by optical microscope, SEM-EDX and XRD in order to identify the components and compounds. Six types of materials were found from the fragments, which are soil layer with brown clay band, soil layer containing a lot of fibers, Korean paper with loose texture, Korean paper with dense texture, silk, and hemp textile. Presumably, the soil layer which have brown clay band is basis layer and the other layers are repaired layers. From comparative study for the components of the pigments, applied on upper and lower parts of the repaired layers, we have concluded that those repaired layers had been applied on the statue by the following order; basis layer ${\rightarrow}$ Korean paper with loose texture ${\rightarrow}$ soil containing a lot of fibers ${\rightarrow}$ silk ${\rightarrow}$ hemp textile and Korean paper with dense texture. In addition, the years that those materials were applied on the statue have been estimated as 1720~1891, 1926, 1946 and 1976, respectively. The distinct features of each age are as the following; lead white and copper chloride hydroxide are major white and green pigments before 1891, zinc white, barium white, emerald green, and ultramarine blue appear after 1926 and titanium white uprises around 1976. Our result presented here, study on pigments applied on traditional statues over several different periods, will provide good database for future study on pigments used for traditional painting in Buddist temples and Dancheong.

• Journal of architectural history
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.83-102
• /
• 2008

In the book of , it is recorded that the names of ingressive stone stairs to the main shrine were Cheongwoongyo(blue cloud bridge) and Baekwoongyo(white cloud bridge) and the names of stairs to the paradise hall were Yeonwhagyo(lotus bridge) and Chilbogyo(seven treasure bridge). But, the ingressive stone stairs to the main shrine and the paradise hall are single consecutive stairs with 2 levels respectively. Because of this, it is rather hard to clearly designate the names to the upper level and the lower level stairs. But, of the stairs to the Paradise hall, the lower stairs have a carving of lotus, and the upper stairs have seven stairs. In this aspect of artifacts, we can safely assume that the upper stairs are Chilbogyo and the lower are Yeonwhagyo. But, for the ingressive stairs to the main shrine, there is no such artificial hint. So, it is difficult to designate the upper and the lower stairs for the two bridges. Especially, it is not clear whether the descriptive order of "lower stairs upper stairs" in the names of Yeonwhagyo and Chilbogyo can be applied to the names of stairs to the main shrine. It is because the general descriptive order is "upper lower" rather than "lower upper." Even though there have been many studies on the Bulguksa temple, the study on the ingressive stone stairs to the main shrine has not made till now. Therefore, the study on the position of Cheongwoongyo and Baekwoongyo stairs can have its validity. In this paper, the positional approach to Cheongwoongyo and Baekwoongyo has been made in following aspects: First, the temple structure of Bulguksa; Second, the five element theory of oriental philosophy and the Book of Changes; Third, the directional consciousness of Buddhism. Through the aspects, the validity of up-down position of Cheongwoongyo and Baekwoongyo has been sought. In this research, it can be concluded that the upper level of ingressive stone stairs to the main shrine of Bulguksa is Cheongwoongyo and the lower level is Baekwoongyo. When considered in the Buddhist directional consciousness, it forms the total structure of "East-Cheongwoongyo South- Baekwoongyo West-Yeonwhagyo North-Chilbogyo."