• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.92-103
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• 2012

The Cheomsungdae was built in the Silla dynasty during the reign of queen Seondeok. It has a round cylindrical structure with a flowing curved fa ade. The identity of the Cheomsungdae has not been revealed since there is not much historical evidence or documents about the building. This study is trying to investigate the building technique and method from the technical point of view of the past when it was constructed. There have been much work and studies done for the Cheomsungdae, but not much were focusing on the technical aspects of the building. In addition there are many questions and doubts about the hypothesis of the building technique of Cheomsungdae since there aren't any remaining documents or historical evidence supporting it. Among many questions, we think that the discussion on falsework technique is not considering traditional construction method of the Dujabee (a traditional construction technique using various tools and equipment for the stability of the building) technique. Therefore, it is hard to identify them as reliable historical facts. As the result of the study, we want to provide the basic data on the construction techniques of Korean traditional architecture and broaden the study scope of technical history by narrowing the errors. The study could be summarized into three points. 1. The historical architecture Cheomseongdae was constructed by using traditional crane techniques such as a Noklo (pulley ladder). Cheomseongdae was re-evaluated as a high level technology for the history of architecture. 2. The benchmark method on Cheomseongdae construction has been applied with a precise scientific method based on the geometrical principals using the central axis. 3. In terms of the history of Korean traditional architecture technology, as there aren't many studies done we proposed various basic data for the traditional crane techniques and criteria of Korean traditional architecture technology. We could expect various and active studies for the technical approach of the history of architecture.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.264-271
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• 2019

Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju, known as an astronomical observatory, is a cultural monument with great historical, academic, and artistic value, as its unique shape is preserved well in its original form. The outer structure, ground stability, and seismic reliability of Cheomseongdae have been assessed by numerous researchers through various scientific methods, but research on the underground structure has been insufficient. This paper contains detailed models of the underground structure of Cheomseongdae interpreted in 2D and 3D images based on the data acquired through GPR surveys conducted of features in and around the base of Cheomseongdae. As a result, the existence of twelve small features arranged in a circle, although only about half of them remain, was confirmed at a depth of 0.4 - 0.6m. Furthermore, a structure three bays long (north-south direction) and four bays wide (east-west direction) was detected beneath Cheomseongdae at the depth of 0.7 - 1.0m. Other than 2 layers of foundations as is known, a square structure with the dimensions of 7m × 7m is situated at a depth of 0.6m, directly under Cheomseongdae, and what is reading that is expected to be the foundation structure of Cheomseongdae was detected and confirmed. This foundation structure is circular with a diameter in the east-west direction of 11m and in the north-south direction of 12m. The northern, western, and eastern edges of this foundation structure are about 1m away from the foundation of Cheomseongdae, whereas the the south side extends to about 5m wide.