• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.38
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• pp.359-385
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• 2005

Red ocher, red lead or cinnabar has been as red colorant for ages. Cinnabar of the red pigments has been highly regarded as a valuable ingredient because it represent a symbol of exorcising and a haute image. It was used as a pigment of painting and mural painting, bowl, clothes, rock writing, gravestone, etc. It is powder which dissolves in perilla oil or glue before using. Because it is high-priced, the use of cinnabar may be limited to the privileged class. Therefore, red ocher or red lead was used instead of cinnabar. "Gongsagyunmunrok" demonstrated that government official's gravestonea has been painted red by two colorants in the period of the Goryeo dynasty. However, cinnabar may be used to paint gravestones for the first time in the period of the Three States because it has been transmitted since the times. This study discuss the results obtained from an analysis of the pigments used on the red pigments of the Stone Monuments. The results can be briefly summarized as below; First, the microcrystalline structures seen on the surface section of analyzed pigments, samples of which were taken from various parts of red pigments show that different sizes and shapes of pigment particle. Second, a result of the analysis on the composition and structure of the pigments shows that the main components in their composition are : Red pigments - Red lead($Pb_3O_4$), Cinnabar(HgS) and Hematite($Fe_2O_3$) White pigments - Calcite($CaCO_3$) Especially, we knew that red Stone Monuments were found to be natural mineral pigments, which were used as a singular or a mixture.