• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.226-245
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• 2019

Beopjusa Gwaebultaeng (Large Buddhist Painting), designated as Treasure No. 1259, was painted in 1766 and featured Yeorae (Buddha) at the center in the style of a single figure. It is the longest existing buddhist painting and was created by Duhun, a painter who was representative of 18th century Korean artists. His other remaining work is Seokgayeorae Gwaebultaeng (1767) in Tongdosa Temple. Considering their same iconography, they are assumed to have used the same underdrawing. Duhun had a superb ability to maintain a consistent underdrawing, while most painters changed theirs within a year. The Beopjusa painting carries significance because it was not only painted earlier than the one in Tongdosa, but also indicates possible relevance to the royal family through its records. Beopjusa Temple is also the site of Seonhuigung Wondang, a shrine housing the spirit tablet of Lady Yi Youngbin, also known as Lady Seonhui. Having been built only a year before Beopjusa Gwaebultaeng was painted, it served as a basis for the presumption that it has a connection to the royal family. In particular, a group of unmarried women is noticeable in the record of Beopjusa painting. The names of some people, including Ms. Lee, born in the year of Gyengjin, are recorded on the Bonginsa Temple Building, the construction of which Lady Yi Youngbin and Princess Hwawan donated money to. In this regard, they are probably court ladies related to Lady Yi Youngbin. The connection of Beopjusa Gwaebultaeng with the royal family is also verified by a prayer at the bottom of the painting, reading "JusangJusamJeonhaSumanse (主上主三殿下壽萬歲, May the king live forever)." While looking into the historical characteristics of this art, this study took an approach based on scientific analysis. Damages to Beopjusa Gwaebultaeng include: bending, folding, wrinkles, stains due to moisture, pigment spalling, point-shaped pigment spalling, and pigment penetration to the lining paper at the back. According to the results of an analysis of the painting pigments, white lead was used as a white pigment, while an ink stick and indigo were used for black. For red, cinnabar and minium were used independently or were combined. For purple, organic pigments seem to have been used. For yellow, white lead and gamboge were mixed, or gamboge was painted over white lead, and gold foil was adopted for storage. As a green pigment, atacamite or a mixture of atacamite and malachite was used. Azurite and smalt were used separately or together as blue pigments.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.431-442
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to reveal that coloring status and the degree of damage and the kinds of pigments used in large buddhist painting (Gwaebultaeng) of Tongdosa temple using a scientific analysis methods. It was observed that the physical damage patterns of the Gwaebultaeng were folding, lifting, fading, and peeling. Lead red, cinnabar and organic pigments were used as red pigments. Malachite and atacamite were used as green pigments, azulite and lazulite were blue pigments, lead white and talc were white pigment. It is estimated that overlapping organic pigments on the lead white were used as the yellow pigment and carbon was the black pigment. Through the analysis of the particle status of the pigments, it was confirmed that different types of raw materials were used for the green pigment, and the crystal form was easily distinguishable. Also, the dark blue color and the light blue color differed from each other depending on the size and shape of the raw material particles. Yellow and purple colors were organic pigments which did not have a graininess. The yellow and purple colors were organic pigments free from the graininess, and the pigments of dark red pigments was found to be mixed with the orange color pigments and carbon particles.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.689-700
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• 2019

This study aimed to analyze the nature and characteristics of the preserved state, materials, and colored pigments of a Buddhist painting of Eunhaesa temple(gwaebultaeng), which is Treasure No. 1270 of Korea, through scientific investigation and analysis. Based on the historical background of the subject, the study investigated the aspects of conservation and analyzed the material characteristics of each pigment in the painting. Results indicate that various colors were created using inorganic pigments such as white lead, minium, cinnabar, orpiment, gold, atacamite, malachite, and smalt and using organic pigments such as black and indigo. The Eunhaesa painting used "cho" as a material for wallpaper, which was unusual during the Joseon period. In addition, a white layer was formed using various white pigments, which was also rare during this period.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.519-532
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• 2020

This study aimed to interpret the coloring materials recorded in the ceremonial writing with the scientific investigation results of the Hanging Painting of the Chiljangsa Temple (Five Buddhas). The results confirm that the Jinboon, Joohong, Hwangdan, Hwanggeum and Seokjahwang are clearly connected to lead white, cinnabar, minium, gold, and orpiment, respectively. Danghayeop and samrok are related to Copper trihydroxychloride, while Daecheong and Joongcheong are azurite, and they seems to be classified by the particle size. Yeonji and Chunghwa are organic dyes in red and blue, respectively, with blue confirming the existence of the side, but Yeonji differs from the names of the ancient texts and Chinese characters; it is unclear whether it is a commonly used Yeonji because of differences in the names of the ancient texts. The presence of Sootohwang has not been confirmed in the gwaebultaeng, but it can be extracted from the soil as a yellow-colored material but the possibility of Deunghwang cannot be ruled out.