• 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.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.

• 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.

• 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.