• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.186-197
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• 2022

The Daejanggakgibi Stele of Silleuksa Temple in Yeoju is a stone stele from the Goryeo Dynasty that is inscribed with various stories about the construction of Daejanggak, a place where Buddhist scriptures were kept. This stele has been maintained for a long time in a state in which discoloration of the body has occurred, and the inscription has been partially damaged due to dozens of cracks. Using non-destructive analysis methods for stone artifacts, material investigation, portable X-ray fluorescence analysis, and ultrasonic velocity analysis for the stele were performed. It was confirmed that the stele body was composed of light gray crystalline limestone, and the base stone, support stone, and cover stone were medium-grained biotite granite. Portable X-ray fluorescence analysis confirmed that iron(Fe) was an original coloring element of the stele surface. From the distribution pattern of the coloration, it can be inferred that iron-containing materials flew down from between the stele body and the cover stone. Thereafter, living organisms or organic contaminants attached to it so that yellow and black contaminants were formed. Ultrasonic diagnosis revealed that the physical property of both the front and back surfaces ranged from fresh rocks(FR) to completely weathered rocks(CW), and the average weathering index was grade 3(intermediate). However, the point where cracks developed intensively was judged to be the completely weathered stage(CW), and some cracks located in the upper and lower parts of the stele bear potentially very high risk. It is necessary to monitor the movement of these cracks and establish reinforcement measures for conservation in the future.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.38-55
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• 2019

At Otani University in Kyoto, Japan, there is a rubbed copy of Tripitaka Koreana, presumably printed in 1381. According to the postscript of the copy, written by Saek Lee himself, the rubbed copy was made at Haeinsa temple in 1381 and was kept at Sinluksa temple in Yeuju. The copy was delivered as a gift to Japan in 1414 and now is kept at the Library of Otani University. Although an approximate summary of the content of the copy was reported in the early 2000s after a basic survey, details of the copy, including the concrete format and packaging paper, are not known yet. In this paper a detailed survey of the copy is conducted on the 109 pages. The copy is divided into two parts: the wrapping and the inner pages. The wrapping paper is divided into yellow and brown colors depending on the material of the paper. The yellow colorwrapping paper was possibly made in 1381 at the time of the rubbed printing, and the brown wrapping paper was repaired after being moved to Japan. Using funds collected in February 1380, the copy of Gyeong(經), Yul(律), and Ron(論) chapters was printed in April 1381. Binding of the copy was completed in September, and the wrapping paper with the title in gold was made in October 1380. The box for keeping Buddhist scriptures was manufactured in November 1380. The copy was moved to Sinluksa temple in April 1382 and delivered to Japan in 1414. At Otani University, the copy is stored in separate rectangular boxes 32.1×25.3cm in size with a height of 23.6cm. The rectangular plate on the four sides is red in external color but black colorinside. The box for keeping Buddhist scriptures was probably made in 1381, but a partial repair was made later. Because of the difficulty of executing a detailed survey of the box for Buddhist scriptures, it is hard to find out its nation and period of production. We look forward to studying the copy as well as the box for Buddhist scriptures in future.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2022

Recently, cultural heritages in South Korea gain many interests of restoration and preservation from the government since many of that have been severely damaged during earthquakes. Many previous studies in both terms of experimental and analytical approaches have been done to examine structural behavior and decide appropriate methods of preservation. Being motivated by such researches, this research aims to investigate a religious stone pagoda dated back to the Goryeo Dynasty in Korea. The structure consists of a granite stone foundation and baked bricks, which resembles the shape of traditional pagodas. In order to examine the structural behavior of the pagoda, an analytical model is implemented using ANSYS, a comprehensive engineering simulation platform. For the time history analysis of the pagoda, several earthquake excitations are chosen and input to simulation modeling. Seismic response of the tower such as time domain, natural frequency, modal shapes and peak acceleration measured at each layer are presented and discussed. In addition, the amplification ratio of the tower is calculated from the accelerations of each layer to determine tower stability in accordance with Korean seismic design guide. The determination and evaluation of status and response of the brick tower by simulation analysis play an important role in the preservation of history as well as valuable architectural heritages in South Korea.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2017

The Silleuksa temple in Yeoju city is adjacent to the South Han River and often has high humidity and fog days. In addition, its proximity to forests renders it prone to damage by insects and microorganisms. In order to obtain the basic data necessary for the establishment of a cultural property preservation management plan, the biological distribution of the wooden buildings and the termite distribution in the surrounding forests were monitored for three years. The wood-boring bee, an insect known to inflict damage to heritage structures, was confirmed, and the distribution of insects varied annually and seasonally, presumably due to the location characteristics of the site and the climate change during the year. In the forest behind, termite colonies were identified as a whole and their distribution pattern was different every year. As per the results of the microorganism survey, the species distribution and pollution degree were different at the entrance of the building. Therefore, it needs continuous biological distribution and conservation environment monitoring to mitigate the effects of wood-damaging organisms.were different according to the entrance of the building.

• 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.29 no.1
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• pp.14-27
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• 2011

The study reviewed the content and the meaning of the present Yeoju Palkyung(eight scenery) through analyzing and interpreting the Palkyung poems, old maps and paintings, and classic materials transmitted in Yeoju area, and investigated the transmission process. Although five scenes of the Yeoju Palkyungs illustrate abstract landscapes derived from the Sosang Palkyung, there are mixed with local sceneries showing famous historical ruins in the area and local life of the Yeogang(驪江: river). Seunggyeong(勝景) of Yeoju, highlighted in old paintings, has been emphasized through duplication the object and the view point field of Yeoju Palgyeong(驪州八詠), which is usually symbolized to sailing boats along the Yeogang, forests around Cheongshimru, and the layer Jeontap and Maam above Shinreuksa(神勒寺) Dongdae(東臺). It is quite undoubtful that the Yeoju Palyong of Choi Sukjeong and Seo Geojung is the copy of the present Yeoju Palkyung, but the present version is found to be all included in the Cheonggijeongsipyoung(淸奇亭十詠) of Cho Moonsu since the 17th Century, which shows that the Cheonggijeongsipyoung is viewed that it played an important role for the transmission of the Yeoju Palkyung. Also, it. is concluded that the Yeoju Palyong recorded in Yeojidoseo(與地圖書) is the same landscape collecting with the presend Yeoju Palkyung, which would be dated back at least until the mid 18th Century. In addition, given the fact that the studied old maps show Eight scenery, Sachoneohwa, Shinreukmojong, Yeontanguibum, Paldaejangrim, Yangdonagan, Ibanchungam, Pasagwau, and Yongmoonjeukchui, recorded consistently in the same time order, the eight scenic points in the old maps had been apparently established as the typical copy of the Yeoju Palkyung in the 18th Century. Therefore, the transmission route of the Yeoju Palkyung follows two separate versions, one starting from the Yeoju Palyong(Choi Sukjeung, Seo Geojeong) to Cheonggijeongpalyong to Yeoju Palyoung(Yeojidoseo) to the present. Yeoju Palkyung, and the other from the Yeoju Palyoung Geumsa Palyong(金沙八詠) to the old map Palkyung to the Yeoju Palkyung(the late 18th C). These two transmission processes have their own cultural sceneries having the same origin, which are different only in perspective which attempts to cover the representative scenic landscapes including Yeoju and Geumsa.

• MISULJARYO - National Museum of Korea Art Journal
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• v.101
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• pp.12-46
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• 2022

Completed in 1467, the Thirteen-story Stone Pagoda of Wongaksa Temple is the last Buddhist pagoda erected at the center of the capital (present-day Seoul) of the Joseon Dynasty. It was commissioned by King Sejo, the final Korean king to favor Buddhism. In this paper, I aim to examine King Sejo's intentions behind celebrating the tenth anniversary of his enthronement with the construction of the thirteen-story stone pagoda in the central area of the capital and the enshrinement of sarira from Shakyamuni Buddha and the Newly Translated Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (圓覺經). This paper provides a summary of this examination and suggests future research directions. The second chapter of the paper discusses the scriptural background for thirteen-story stone pagodas from multiple perspectives. I was the first to specify the Latter Part of the Nirvana Sutra (大般涅槃經後分) as the most direct and fundamental scripture for the erection of a thirteen-story stone pagoda. I also found that this sutra was translated in Central Java in the latter half of the seventh century and was then circulated in East Asia. Moreover, I focused on the so-called Kanishka-style stupa as the origin of thirteen-story stone pagodas and provided an overview of thirteen-story stone pagodas built around East Asia, including in Korea. In addition, by consulting Buddhist references, I prove that the thirteen stories symbolize the stages of the practice of asceticism towards enlightenment. In this regard, the number thirteen can be viewed as a special and sacred number to Buddhist devotees. The third chapter explores the Buddhist background of King Sejo's establishment of the Thirteen-story Stone Pagoda of Wongaksa Temple. I studied both the Dictionary of Sanskrit-Chinese Translation of Buddhist Terms (翻譯名義集) (which King Sejo personally purchased in China and published for the first time in Korea) and the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment. King Sejo involved himself in the first translation of the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment into Korean. The Dictionary of Sanskrit-Chinese Translation of Buddhist Terms was published in the fourteenth century as a type of Buddhist glossary. King Sejo is presumed to have been introduced to the Latter Part of the Nirvana Sutra, the fundamental scripture regarding thirteen-story pagodas, through the Dictionary of Sanskrit-Chinese Translation of Buddhist Terms, when he was set to erect a pagoda at Wongaksa Temple. King Sejo also enshrined the Newly Translated Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment inside the Wongaksa pagoda as a scripture representing the entire Tripitaka. This enshrined sutra appears to be the vernacular version for which King Sejo participated in the first Korean translation. Furthermore, I assert that the original text of the vernacular version is the Abridged Commentary on the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (圓覺經略疏) by Zongmi (宗密, 780-841), different from what has been previously believed. The final chapter of the paper elucidates the political semantics of the establishment of the Wongaksa pagoda by comparing and examining stone pagodas erected at neungsa (陵寺) or jinjeonsawon (眞殿寺院), which were types of temples built to protect the tombs of royal family members near their tombs during the early Joseon period. These stone pagodas include the Thirteen-story Pagoda of Gyeongcheonsa Temple, the Stone Pagoda of Gaegyeongsa Temple, the Stone Pagoda of Yeongyeongsa Temple, and the Multi-story Stone Pagoda of Silleuksa Temple. The comparative analysis of these stone pagodas reveals that King Sejo established the Thirteen-story Stone Pagoda at Wongaksa Temple as a political emblem to legitimize his succession to the throne. In this paper, I attempt to better understand the scriptural and political semantics of the Wongaksa pagoda as a thirteen-story pagoda. By providing a Korean case study, this attempt will contribute to the understanding of Buddhist pagoda culture that reached its peak during the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. It also contributes to the research on thirteen-story pagodas in East Asia that originated with Kanishka stupa and were based on the Latter Part of the Nirvana Sutra.