• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.19
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• pp.69-82
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• 2018

The gilt-bronze standing Buddha and bronze standing Buddha statues excavated from Yeongguksa Temple in Yeongdong, currently held in the collection of the Cheongju National Museum, underwent conservation treatment after scientific study. Materials analysis showed that the gilt-bronze statue was made with a ternary alloy of copper, tin, and lead, while the bronze statue is of a binary alloy of copper and tin. The analysis also revealed that the bronze statue contains gold, and it is therefore recommended to change its description to gilt-bronze standing Buddha. The gilt-bronze statue appears to have been made with lead produced in Korea. The material observed on the surface that is presumed to have been used as an adhesive for the gold coloring is thought to be lacquer. For conservation treatment, the statues were minimally cleaned using physical and chemical methods and were treated through consolidation and protective coating.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2018

This study investigated manufacturing technique and provenance of the Gilt-bronze Seated Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha) Statue of Janggoksa Temple. The statue had the following : Cu(68.8%)-Sn(10.4%)-Pb(17.1%), it is similar to other medium or large Buddha statue. As results of comparison lead isotope ratio of sample with the provenance data were plotted in zone 3 of the South Korean galena map. According to this result of Bronze Buddha could be made into galena of the located in same area the temple. The results of this study were compared with the Bronze Bodhisattva statue of Goseongsa Temple. The manufacturing techniques were different based on the characteristics of Buddha statues and thus could be made into galena of the located in same area the temple.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.146-159
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• 2024

In this study, a study on the production technology of the Buddha statue and the production of raw material origin was conducted through scientific analysis on the Bronze seated Bodhisattva Statue of Goseongsa Temple, a treasure. As a result of microstructure analysis through a metal microscope, it was confirmed that the microstructure of the Bronze seated Bodhisattva Statue of Goseongsa Temple was a process-type dendritic structure, and the casting structure of bronze was well represented, so it was manufactured through casting. Subsequently, as a result of analyzing the alloy composition ratio through SEM-EDS, it was identified as a ternary alloy with 81.26 wt% of copper (Cu) and 16.42 wt% of tin (Sn) and 1.72 wt% of lead (Pb). The results of the analysis of lead isotope ratios using a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) were substituted into the distribution of lead isotope ratios on the Korean Peninsula, it was shown in corresponding to Jeolla-do and Chungcheong-do regions and North and South Gyeongsang Province. This suggests that the raw materials used in their production were likely sourced from the mines around Goseong Temple in Gangjin. Despite the fact that the statue is a medium and large Buddha with a total height of 51 centimeters, 1.72 wt% of lead (Pb) was found as a result of alloy composition ratio analysis, which showed a similar composition to the lead content ratio of small bronze and gilt-bronze Buddha statues. Therefore, we compared and analyzed the results of the analysis of the composition ratio of the alloys of bronze and gilt bronze statues, which has been scientifically analyzed with a compositional age similar to that of the Bronze seated Bodhisattva Statue of Goseongsa Temple. Comparison results, Various factors, such as the size of the Buddha statue as well as its stylistic characteristics and the age of composition, may exist in determining the alloy composition ratio of the bronze and gilt bronze Buddha statues, and it was confirmed that the alloy composition ratio or casting technology was properly adjusted when the Buddha statue was created. In other words, it is judged that a more comprehensive system of Buddha statue production technology should be investigated by conducting archaeological and art history studies on stylistic characteristics and age of composition, as well as scientific analysis results such as observation of internal structure, microstructure observation, and analysis of alloy composition ratio using radiation transmission irradiation.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.296-305
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• 2020

Konbaung Dynasty was the last unified dynasty that ruled Myanmar from 18^th to 19^th century. During this time Buddhist art flourished in Myanmar due to the interest of the rulers toward their traditional culture. Metal decorative artifacts in the 18^th century are classified into structures and Buddha statues. They are further subdivided into gilt-bronze and bronze objects, depending on their material component. Three-dimensional gilt-bronze decorative artifacts were cast with a brass alloy of Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb and their surfaces were gilded with extremely thin gold leaves (less than 1 ㎛ in thickness). The gilded layer approximately comprised 10 wt% silver in addition to the main element, gold. The lack of Hg in the gilded layer, indicated that the amalgam gilding technique was not applied. The analysis results indicated that the lacquered gilding technique was applied to the objects. Bronze decorative artifacts without gilding were cast with materials containing Cu-Sn-Pb. The bronze pavilions and bronze Buddha staues were crafted using the same alloy of high-tin bronze, which approximately contained 20 wt% Sn. No heat treatment was applied to reduce the brittleness of the objects after they were cast with a large amount of Sn. The most significant difference between the gilt-bronze and bronze decorative artifacts lie in their elemental compositions. The gilt-bronze decorative artifacts with their gilded surface were manufactured using brass containing zinc, while the unplated bronze decorative artifacts were composed of bronze containing tin. Artifacts of the same type and size are classified differently depending on the materials utilized in the surface treatment such as gilding.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.100-116
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• 2023

The Sinamsa Temple was built in the late Goryeo Dynasty and a gilt-bronze seated Buddha is enshrined in Geungnakjeon hall in the precinct. Various damages occurred in the gilt layer of the Buddha, such as peeling of the gilt layer and deteriorating gloss. In the study, the conservation conditions of the inside and outside on the statue were accurately investigated, and the making technique was interpreted through the material characteristics and non-destructive diagnosis of the statue. As a result, it is estimated that gold-gilding layer is pure gold, coloration pigment of black is carbon, green is malachite, atacamite and verdigris, red is red lead and cinnabar, respectively. In the deterioration evaluation, peeling, cracking, break out and exfoliation of the gilt layer are confirmed as damages, but the conservation condition is relatively wholesome. However, the gloss of the gilt layer is calculated to be wider in the poorer part than the maintenance part. The ultrasonic velocity of the statue was calculated to be 1,230 to 3,987 (mean 2,608) m/s and showed a relatively wide range. In infrared thermography, peeling was not confirmed, and no special bonding marks were found. In endoscope, some biological damage and corrosion were observed on the surface of the internal metal, and sealed artifacts were identified. Manufacturing technique based on the study, it is considered that the gilt-bronze seated Buddha was cast at once, and the mold was inverted to inject molten metal.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 1992

Metallurgical studies of the bronze artifacts excavated from Miruksa Temple were performed by chemical analysis and metallographic observation. Alloy systems of the bronze artifacts were classified into two groups of Cu-Sn and Cu-Sn-Pb, according to the items. The contents of impurities such as Sb, As, Ni and Fe in bronze artifacts are within the limiting range of the mod ern standard bronze castings. Chemical compositions of the kitchen utensils such as bronze vessels and dishes in the Unified Silla dynasty, are in the follow ing range, Cu : 74.8-79.4% and Sn : 18.6-21.1%. Chemical composition of the Buddha-image in Koryo dynasty are 820Cu-7.0Sn-10.3Pb, showing increased Pb content and decreased Sn content. The results of chemical analysis suggest that the chemical compositions were good controlled. Any casting defects such as voids and shrinkage holes are not found microscopically, indicating high casting skill. Zinc atoms are not contained in the all bronze artifacts of Miruksa Temple site. This is the common facts founded in the east asian bronze artifacts of Korea, China and Japan. It is comparable with the European bronze of Cu-Sn-Pb-Zn system, after the Middle Age.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2019

This study intends to identify manufacturing techniques, including casting and alloy composition, of nine metal Buddha statues excavated from archaeological sites in Bagan, Myanmar. Two Buddha statues from Pyu city state(2^nd to 9^th century) contain Cu-Sn alloy(including <1 wt% Fe), with different relatively high percentages of Sn(16 wt% and 25 wt%) identified from each Buddha statue, and no Pb detected. Five Buddha statues from the Bagan dynasty contain various alloy ratios of Cu-Sn(including <1 wt% Pb), Cu-Sn-Pb, and Cu-Sn-Zn-Pb. All Buddha statues appear to be fabricated by casting, as there is no evidence of other heat treatments. The silver Buddha statue manufactured in the 18^th century includes >1% Cu besides silver with no additional metallic components identified. The bronze Buddha statue manufactured in the Konbaung dynasty(18^th century) is of Cu-Sn-Pb alloy. The Buddha statues of Pyu was alloy of Cu-Sn without Pb including ahigh percentage of The Buddha statues of both the Bagan and Konbaung dynasties are comprised of ternary Cu-Sn-Pb alloys, with a heterogeneous distribution of lead and tin. Some of Buddha statues of the Bagan dynasty have similar alloy ratios as those of Pyu, suggesting that similar manufacturing techniques were used.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.7 no.2 s.15
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• pp.29-48
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• 1998

The first Pagoda of Korea was introduced from China, and adapted from the wooden multi-storied pavilion. Also in Bronze one, multi-storied type of wooden pagoda was adapted. Bronze pagoda was used to buddhist ossuary and a kind of metalwork. Metalworks were made of gold, silver, copper, or iron by one of the methods of production-casting or hammering and decorated design of incision, raise, openwork, gold- plating or inlaying with gold and silver. Sometimes it was used as the easy carriage of Buddha image by guess. In most cases, the plan of Bronze pagoda was square and podium was one story. but in the advance of podium two-storied platform appeared. Column appeared in a symbol, so it didn't appear in a square and circular form. It means that the column was vertical member which only divided the wall. In koryo period, Gabled roof and Half-hipped roof was spreaded in public but Bronze pagoda was used to square Hipped roof. Vertical shaft over roof(上輪部), apart from body of pagoda(塔身部), was inserted on the hole above the Bokbal(覆鉢) for the balance of pagoda. And a thick iron bar put in the roof to the platform. It was sustained the balance of pagoda. The stories of pagoda were various from 3rd stories to 9, the lower stories was larger scale and the higher was smaller one.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.136-161
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• 2014

This paper investigates the Buddhist sculpture and wall-painting enshrined in the halls of Bunhwangsa (Bunhwang temple) at Gyeongju in the mid-Silla period, which are thoroughly unknown to us except through textual records of Samgukyusa compiled by Priest Ilyeon in the late thirteenth century. According to Samgukyusa, a clay portrait-sculpture of Monk Wonhyo, made by his son Seolchong, was placed in Bunhwangsa. This image faced to the side, because he turned his body toward Seolchong when Seolchong bowed to this image. This story suggests that the portrait image of Wonhyo was most likely made after the Vimalakirti images, which were popular in China from the Six Dynasties period on, especially the Vimalakirti images of the early Tang period, turning his head and body toward Bodhisattva Manjusi seated opposite. The Vimalakirti image of Seokkuram might show the portrait image of Wonhyo. A wall-painting of a Thousand-Armed Avalokiresvara who has a thousand arms with a thousand eyes, called by the name 'Great Mercy with a Thousand Hands', was enshrined on the north wall of the left hall of Bunhwangsa. During King Gyeondeok's reign, Himyeong and her five-year-old blind child prayed before this image, and the blind child gained eyesight. While praying, they sang a song pleading for one of the thousand eyes which the Bodhisattva had in his hands. This song implies that Thousand-Armed Avalokiresvara had a thousand eyes, one painted on each hand. The fact that Thousand-Armed Avalokiresvara of Bunhwangsa was called 'Great Mercy with a Thousand Hands' indicates that this painting was based on the scripture Thousand-Armed Avalokiresvara Sutra translated by Bhagavaddharma in about 655, in the Tang period, which also has 'Great Mercy' in its title. In the year 755, a gilt bronze image of Medicine Buddha was made in Bunhwangsa, using nearly 61 tons of bronze to cast. The huge amount of bronze suggests it includes not only the Buddha statue but many other images such as two attendant Bodhisattvas of Suryaprabha and Candraprabha, Eight Great Bodhisattvas, or Twelve Guardians. Seven images of Medicine Buddha might have been made in accordance with the scriptural text of Seven Medicine Buddha Sutra translated by Monk Yijing. Textual evidence and recent excavation have revealed that seven images of Medicine Buddha and their whole attendant images based on Seven Medicine Buddha Sutra were made in the Nara period from 751 to 762 when Queen Gomyo contructed Sinyakusiji temple for the recovery of her husband Shomu. It is fair to assume that one or seven Medicine Buddhas and a whole group of his (their) attendant images were made for the main hall of Bunhwangsa temple in 755.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.19
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• pp.159-177
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• 1998

Three-story Stone Pagoda(East) on Kamǔnsa temple constructed in A.D. 682 during the reign of King Shinmun-wang of the Unified Shilla period(668~935) was repaired by Cultural Properties Office in 1996. At that time, 27 objectsincluding sari case, small Buddha etc. were excavated. The 26 objects on foundation parts have been treated. Several objects were analyzed by EDXRF. As a result, the small Buddha of gilt bronze was proved to be an gold amalgam. The degree of gold purity was about 22K, and the excellence of gold-refining technique of that day was verified.