• Journal of architectural history
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.53-63
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• 2003

Tree-ring chronologies can be used to date historical buildings by matching them with the chronologies of living trees or previously dated samples. Tree-ring dating gives a calendar year to each tree ring and produces the felling dates of logs or woods which had been used for buildings. In Korea, several chronologies of Japanese red pine(Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc., 'sonamu' in Korean), a major species for the wooden building materials, have been developed and used for dating historical buildings. In this study, Tongmyungjeon Hall of Changkyung Palace in Seoul was dated by tree rings. The present Tongmyungjeon Hall was known to be reconstructed in A.D. 1834 after burned-out in A.D. 1790. We sampled total of 122 wood samples which were replaced during the repair process in 2002-2003. Felling dates of the samples were determined by the dendrochronological crossdating method. Crossdating method employs graphic comparison of the master patterns (ring-width chronologies of known dates) with those of the sample chronologies of unknown dates. Tree-ring dates confirmed that the reconstruction of 1834 utilized second-handed timbers as well as fresh-cut ones. The felling dates of wooden floor frames were mostly A.D. 1913, indicating the 'Ondol' floors were changed to the wooden floors around 1914 when the Japanese rulers brutally destroyed the royal Korean Palaces and transformed palace buildings to their offices or exhibition halls after occupying Korea in 1910. This study proved that tree-ring dating was a useful and accurate method to identify the critical dates for the history of Korean traditional buildings.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2010

Three buildings -Jibokjae, Hyubgildang and Palujung- are connected each other and consist of a library and reception complex for royal kings at Kyungbok Palace in Seoul. Jibokjae and Hyubgildang were known to have been moved from Changdok Palace in A.D. 1891. No construction records have been known for Palujung. In 2004, during repair of three buildings, a dendrochronological analysis was conducted to examine their building histories. We took 67 wood samples for dendrochronological analysis; 20 from Jibokjae, 37 Hyubgildang and 10 Palujung, respectively. The results showed that the felling dates of Jibokjae and Hyubgildang woods were A.D. 1877-1879/1880, indicating original construction of two buildings at early 1880s. Felling dates of Palujung were 1886-1889/1890, those of roof filling timbers 1890 and the connection part between Hyubgildang and Jibokjae 1886, confirming 1891's movement of Hyubgildang and Jibokjae and adding a new building, Palujung.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.300-305
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• 2005

Tree-ring chronologies can be used to date historical buildings and furniture by matching them with the chronologies of living trees or previously dated samples. Tree-ring dating gives a calender year to each tree ring and produces the felling dates of logs or woods which had been used for buildings. In Korea, several chronologies of Japanese red pine(Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.,'sonamu' in Korean), a major species for the wooden building materials, have been developed and used for dating historical buildings. Daejojeon of Changduck Palace is known to be reconstructed in A.D. 1920 after burned-out in A.D. 1917. Instead of new woods, Daejojeon was reconstructed by reusing the woods of Kyotaejeon in Kyungbok Palace. We sampled total of 26 wood samples which were replaced during the repair process of Daejojeon in 1995. Felling dates of the samples were determined by the dendrochronological crossdating method. Crossdating method employs graphic comparison of the master patterns (ring-width plots of living trees or known dates) with those of the sample chronologies of unknown dates. The cutting dates of Daejojeon woods were divided in two groups. One was the late 1860s and the other 1880s. The results confirmed that Kyotaejeon was reconstruced first in the A.D 1860s and then in late 1880s after burning out in 1876.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.550-565
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• 2021

This study's objective was to conduct species identification and tree-ring dating of wooden elements used in Mungyeong Juheulgwan of Joryeong (Gate No. 1). Of the 84 wooden elements evaluated, 76 were confirmed to be hard pines, 5 were soft pines, and 3 belonged to Abies spp. For tree-ring dating, cores of the wooden elements were collected using a drill, and ring-width plots of individual samples were constructed using the TSAP software. The results of performing tree-ring dating for the outermost ring of 59 hard pine wooden elements revealed the following 4 felling dates: summer of 1708-late fall of 1709, summer of 1792-early spring of 1794, late fall of 1838-early spring of 1840 and 1867, and early spring-fall of 1872. These felling dates were found to be consistent with those in the construction and repair records of the Annals of Joseon Dynasty, Juhulgwan Jungsugi, and those engraved on Juhulgwan Walls. It is believed that some of the wooden materials harvested at that time were stored and used since there was a difference of approximately10 years between the repair records and felling dates.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.406-414
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• 2013

This study aims to date wooden coffins excavated from graves in Shinnae-dong, Seoul, South Korea, using dendrochronology. The species of woods used to make the coffins were identified as Pinus densiflora S. et Z., one of the major conifers in Korea. Of 12 graves, 10 were successfully dated using various red-pine chronologies of South Korea. Due to the absence of the last-formed tree ring before felling, the number of sapwood rings, used to obtain likely cutting dates, had to be estimated. The terminus post quem for two coffins without plaster frames were AD 1548 and AD 1571, respectively. Eight coffins with plaster frames yielded estimated dates from AD 1664 to AD 1799. The tree-ring dates indicated that the coffins with plaster frames in Shinnae-dong were constructed approximately 100 years later than those without plaster frames.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.326-332
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• 2020

The this study's objective was to conduct species identification and tree-ring dating for the wood elements of Daewoong-jeon(main temple), Hwagye-temple, Seoul, Korea. Most of the wood elements were made from Pinus spp.(hard pine). However, one large beam was constructed from Abies spp.. For the tree-ring dating, cores were taken from the elements using a drill, and ring-width plots of individual samples were produced with the TSAP software program. The tree-ring dating results showed that, the date of the outermost ring of most elements (20 elements), including beams and pillars, were from AD 1839 to 1870. Among them, five elements had bark, and felling dates were AD 1868 and 1869. These dates confirmed the historical records that Daewoongjeon was rebuilt in AD 1870 from the records of hidden materials(Bokjangmul) in Jongdori by the survey 2012.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2022

This aimed to species identification and tree-ring dating of wooden elements used in the Myeongjeong-gate of the Changgyeong-palace, Seoul, Korea. Of the 79 wooden elements evaluated, 78 were confirmed to be hard pines and one belonged to Abies spp.. Cores of the wooden elements were collected using a drill for tree-ring dating, and ring-width plots of individual samples were constructed using the TSAP software. The tree-ring dating results for the outermost ring of 58 hard pine wooden elements revealed the following felling dates: early spring of 1604-late fall of 1615, late fall of 1706-early spring of 1707, and late fall of 1828-late fall of 1834. The obtained felling dates of the 1600s and 1800s were found to be consistent with those in the construction and repair records of the Annals of Joseon Dynasty, Gwanghaegun's Diary and Changgyeonggung Yeonggeondogam Uigwe. However, the obtained felling dates of the 1700s were not consistent with those in the construction and repair records. Therefore, additional confirmation of repairs that were not included in the records was possible using tree-ring dating.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2007

Tree-ring dating can be used to date scientifically prehistoric timbers, historical buildings or woodcrafts. It can give a calendar year to each tree ing and produces the felling dates of logs or wood panels. In this study, we applied tree-ring dating to three rice chests, whose dates of manufacturing are unknown. According to the shape of frame, we assumed that they should be made in Cholla Province. The last rings of the woods of three rice chests were dated A.D. 1830, A.D. 1870 and A.D. 1901, respectively. Tree-ring patterns indicated that two of them were collected from Kangwon province.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2012

Tree-ring dating can be used to date scientifically prehistoric timbers, historical buildings or woodcrafts. It gives a calendar year to each tree ring and produces the felling dates of logs or wood panels. In this study, we applied tree-ring dating to a medicine cabinet in Seoul Museum of History. We obtained tree-ring data from radial or cross section by taking photographs with a digital camera. The cabinet were dated A.D. 1821 to the last ring. It was about 50 year older than the previous medicine cabinets. Tree-ring patterns indicated that the origin of woods for the cabinet would be near Sorak mountains.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.57-64
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• 2007

Tree-ring dating can be used to date scientifically prehistoric timbers, historical buildings or woodcrafts. It gives a calendar year to each tree ring and produces the felling dates of logs or wood panels. In this study, we applied tree-ring dating to two medicine cabinets, known to be made in Kyônggi Province. Two cabinets were dated A.D. 1884 and 1874 to the last rings, respectively. Even with closed ages, two cabinets show different styles and structures. Tree-ring patterns indicated that the origins of woods for both cabinets would be near Sorak mountains and Kangneung area in Kangwon province.