• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.43-60
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• 2010

This study was investigated quantitative and objective making techniques for molding clay of Four-guardian statues in Songgwangsa temple. Also, basic data about the provenance of molding clay was acquired for the restoration using same materials when the conservation treatment is carried out. As a result, molding clay used the Four-guardian statues was identified the very similar soil regardless of layers and objects. But molding clay differed in particle sizes and contents of organic matters according to the first layer to finish layer in relatively thick parts. Also, it was used one kind of soil without the layer distinction in thin parts. The restoration soil was applied to genetically similar soil as molding clay of the Four-guardian statues, and showed a difference of careful selection degree according to the layers. As a result of the provenance interpretation, the soil distributing presumed provenance was confirmed the same origin as molding clay. Therefore, the soil is appropriate for the materials of conservation treatment. This result will contribute inorganic material research and conservation treatment for the clay molded Four-guardian statues in Korea.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.353-366
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• 2012

This study was interpreted the making techniques of the Four Guardian Statues in Wanju Songkwangsa Temple, and retained basic data necessary for conservation treatment and restoration of the same material by estimating the soil source. The molding clay used in the Statues showed a variety of material characteristics according to different layers. The first and mid layers estimated as the original molding clay are composed of the same kind of soil. The soil of the finish layer was also confirmed to be genetically similar to that of the first and mid layers, despite little discrepancy. The former restoration layer was inconsistent in material characteristics with the original molding clay in every result of analysis. As a result of gamma radiography, making techniques of the Statues were able to identify the figure of the frame connecting the woods of main pillar frame to sub-frame and steel wire with ㄷ-clamp, nails and straw ropes, and the molding clay constructed upon the frame. Meanwhile, provenance interpretation confirmed that the soil of the estimated provenance area is of the same origin as the soil of the finish layer, and therefore is an appropriate material for conservation treatment. This result will contribute to the research on making techniques of the molding clay Statues.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.47-66
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• 2007

$Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ are understood as the deities of four directions in Buddhism: $Dhrtar{\bar{a}}stra$ in the East, $Vir{\bar{u}}dhaka$ in the South, $Vir{\bar{u}}p{\bar{a}}ksa$ in the West and $Vai{\acute{s}}ravana$ in the North respectively. Their common name is, therefore, called as the "Four Guardian Kings", whose function is to prevent demonic forces from entering into its sacred world. Although the position of $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ is to the lowest level in the hierarchy of the minor deities in Buddhism, the cult of $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ was widely spread and prominent in the countries of Northern Buddhism. It played a significant role in terms of the state-protecting Buddhism, on behalf of it's esoteric and magic power. More than 20 Gateways of the $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ and $Lokap{\bar{a}}la$ statues were still well preserved in Korea, and they were believed to be constructed after the Japanese attack in 1592. After war, monks had concentrated on restoring ruined temples and building many new Gateways of the Four Guardian Kings over the Korean peninsular. Under such circumstances, even though the $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ played a significant role as the subject of cult in Korean Buddhism. they might have a small chance to be taught traditional Lama iconography exactly. The purpose of this essay is to examine the relation of orientation of the Gate way of $Lokap{\bar{a}}las$ and allocation of each Kings inside the gate.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.122-147
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• 2012

The Four-guardian statues in Song-gwang buddhist temple, Suncheon, Korea, have been remade in AD 1628 and have been repaired and repainted over several times since then. Therefore, the study of the pigments applied on the statues can provide good chance for investigation about pigments used in the late Chosun Period. Pigments on fragments from Gwang-mok(Virupaksha), one of the Four-guardian statues, have been analyzed by optical microscope, SEM-EDX and XRD in order to identify the components and compounds. Six types of materials were found from the fragments, which are soil layer with brown clay band, soil layer containing a lot of fibers, Korean paper with loose texture, Korean paper with dense texture, silk, and hemp textile. Presumably, the soil layer which have brown clay band is basis layer and the other layers are repaired layers. From comparative study for the components of the pigments, applied on upper and lower parts of the repaired layers, we have concluded that those repaired layers had been applied on the statue by the following order; basis layer ${\rightarrow}$ Korean paper with loose texture ${\rightarrow}$ soil containing a lot of fibers ${\rightarrow}$ silk ${\rightarrow}$ hemp textile and Korean paper with dense texture. In addition, the years that those materials were applied on the statue have been estimated as 1720~1891, 1926, 1946 and 1976, respectively. The distinct features of each age are as the following; lead white and copper chloride hydroxide are major white and green pigments before 1891, zinc white, barium white, emerald green, and ultramarine blue appear after 1926 and titanium white uprises around 1976. Our result presented here, study on pigments applied on traditional statues over several different periods, will provide good database for future study on pigments used for traditional painting in Buddist temples and Dancheong.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.64-78
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• 2023

This article examines the background and meaning of the construction of Josadang Hall in Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju, by Seolsan Cheonhee(1307~1382) in the late 14th century through the characteristics of the hall's mural. Six guardian deities(the Four Heavenly Kings in the center, Indra and Brahma on each side of the kings) are depicted on the southern wall(location of the entrance) of the Josadang, facing the statue of the great monk Uisang(625~702 AD) on the north wall. This mural is the oldest among Korean temple murals and exhibits very unique characteristics. In general, scenes from the scriptures are depicted on the back wall of the central statue. In contrast, the Josadang mural depicts only the guardian deities facing the main statue with no scene description. The appearance of the deities, who seem to protect the main statue of the monk Uisang, and their expressions, as if drawn from relief statues, are not seen in other murals. Nevertheless, it is similar to the stupas of the Seon(Ch. Chan 禪) sect monks established from the late Silla(57 BC~935 AD) through early Goryeo(918~1392 AD), with guardian deities on their surface. The iconography of the deities is a classic form of the late Silla to early Goryeo. The fact that the Josadang was built to commemorate Uisang, who founded the Korean Hwaeom sect(Ch. Huayan sect, 華嚴宗), and that guardians were placed to protect Uisang's statue reveals the concept of worship for the monk who founded the sect. As a result, the reason Cheonhee built the hall can also be understood as an extension of the ideology behind the construction of the stupas of the Seon sect monks. The problem, however, is that Cheonhee is a monk of the Hwaeom sect, and Buseoksa is a representative temple of the Hwaeom sect, not the Seon sect. Therefore, to better understand the background of the hall's construction, this article examined the situation of Goryeo Buddhism in the 14th century as well as the activities of Seolsan Cheonhee. Since Ganhwa Seon(Ch. Kanhua Chan, 看話禪) was dominant in the 14th century, Cheonhee went to study in the Yuan Dynasty(1271~1368 AD) at the age of 58 and was approved by Chinese Ganhwaseon monks before taking the position of Guksa(國師 national monk). However, he was eventually pushed to Buseoksa Temple, where he worked hard to rebuild it. Cheonhee most likely sought to expand the Hwaeom sect, which had been shrinking compared to the Seon sect, by enhancing power with the reconstruction of Buseoksa. The desire that the Hwaeom sect, which was losing its power due to the rise of the Seon sect in the 14th century, attempted to develop it by building Josadang hall, is well revealed by the Josadang murals.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2020

There are stone sculptures diversely shaped in several parts of Gyeongbokgung. Geunjeongjeon is a place where the stone sculptures are intensively placed among the various palace buildings of Gyeongbokgung, and it is more important because it contains the phases of the age of the dynasty and the symbolism of governing philosophy. What can be seen in the structure of auspicious animal sculptures is based on the form of instinctive thought that the heavenly and human order systems are in an organic correspondence with each other, especially with regard to astronomical events such as Samwon Sasin 12jisin 28su. The parts that have been interpreted only in Sasin and 12jisin in the interpretations such as wild dogs, Gyoryong, camels, wolves, and apes were able to clarify the contents by revealing the form of 28su. In particular, as Beopsu Ssangbeopsu at the corner may be related to the guardian deity who governs water, called Yimun, Chimi, and Chimun, it is one of Bibo's ways to protect the palace that was vulnerable to fire. In addition, the shape of the existing 28su placed Dambi, but Ha Woldae at the Geunjeongjeon was assumed to have a camel statue and a planned arrangement of double meaning with the Bibo form of Pungsu Sasinsa, and it is also a feature of the arrangement of Woldae at the Geunjeongjeon. The actual composition of auspicious animals at the Nambogye of Geunjeongjeon was in the order of Haechi, wild dogs, horses and Jujak, and the contents of "Gyeongbokgung Construction Daily Record" were in the order of Haechi, horses, wild dogs, and Jujak. As to different composition layouts, based on the contents of the "Gyeongbok palace Construction Daily Record", the composition of Samjae Cheonjiin (天地人) was interpreted differently from the conventional interpretation of the arrangement of Woldae. All of these forms are associated with defense systems in the four directions and have become animal representations of each direction. The auspicious animal statues placed on the railing of Geunjeongjeon Woldae can be seen as reflected in a single building with the three dimensional personality that includes Pungsu's Bibo personality with the symbolic meaning that reveals the centrality as Jeong Jeon, the nation's best politics let alone the ideological system of the ancient astronomical of the East called Men Heaven Unity.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.250-273
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• 2020

The three-story stone pagodas in Hyeon-ri and Hwacheon-ri,Yeongyang Gyeongsangbuk-do are stone pagodas that exhibit the typical style of Unified Silla. The two pagodas are believed to have been built in the mid- and late 9th centuries at the latest, considering the style of the three-story roof stone on top of the double-tier base. This is also confirmed by the reliefs carved at the base and the first-story of the pagoda. The Four Heavenly Kings and the Twelve Zodiacal Animal Deities were first combined in the late 8th century in the stone pagoda at the Wonwonsa Temple Site, and the Eight Classes of Divine Beings was also the most popular carved pagoda reliefs in the 9th century. However, the two Yeongyang stone pagodas are characterized by a combination of the Four Heavenly Kings (1st story), the Eight Classes (top base), and the Twelve Zodiacal Animals (lower base), and the stone used for the pagoda consists of sedimentary rocks of the sandstone family, which comprise most of the geological strata in the Yeongyang area, rather than ordinary granite. The new combinations of the three types of guardian deities and the Eight Classes changed from seated to standing poses is interpreted as an attempt to enhance the Buddhist faith and cultural status of the Yeongyang area, along with the fact that the stone pagoda was built using local natural materials. The Eight Classes of the Yeongyang stone pagoda does not follow the two types of arrangement of the pagodas with the Eight Classes, but some of the deities have been relocated to a new location. Composed of AsuraGandharva on the east side, Naga-Mahoraga on the south, Deva-Garuda on the west, and Kimnara-Yaksa on the north, this form can be classified as a unique 'third layout of the Eight Classes' in the Yeongyang area. Such changes in the shape and posture of the reliefs reflect a new perception of the pagodas. The reason why the Gandharva and Yaksa statues were carved on the east and north sides, respectively, was because they were deemed subordinate to the Four Heavenly Kings, and the fact that the Naga and the Mahoraga were carved on the south side was presumed to have influenced the geographical location of the two pagodas on the northern side of Banbyeoncheon Stream. The Hyeon-ri and Hwacheon-ri three-story stone pagodas inherited the tradition of typical Unified Silla-period pagodas, while also bearing their own new regional characteristics.