• MISULJARYO - National Museum of Korea Art Journal
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• v.96
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• pp.209-223
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• 2019

The Iron Seated Buddha sculpture in the National Museum of Korea had long sat unregistered in storage at the museum. However, a new accession number "bon9976" has recently been assigned to it. This sculpture was excavated from the neighborhood of Heungnyongsa Temple in Baekun-ri, Yidong-myeon, Pocheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do Province together with another Iron Seated Buddha sculpture(bon9975) called "Iron Buddha from Pocheon." A comparison and examination of Gelatin Dry Plate and official documents from the Joseon Government-General Museum during the Japanese occupation period have revealed that these two Iron Buddha sculptures were transferred to the Museum of the Government-General of Korea on December 17, 1925. The Iron Seated Buddha sculpture(bon9976) has a height of 105 centimeters, width at the shoulders of 57 centimeters, and width at the knee of 77 centimeters. The Buddha is wearing a robe with rippling drapery folds and the right shoulder exposed. He is seated in the position called gilsangjwa(the seat of good fortune) in which the left foot is placed over the right thigh. The features of the Buddha's oval face are prominently sculpted. The voluminous cheeks, eye sockets in a large oval shape, slanted eyes, short nose, and plump lips can also be found in other ninth-century Iron Seated Buddha sculptures at Silsangsa Temple in Namwon, Jeollanam-do Province, Hancheonsa Temple in Yecheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and Samhwasa Temple in Donghae-si, Gangwon-do Province. Moreover, its crossed legs, robe exposing the right shoulder, and rippling drapery folds suggest that this sculpture might have been modeled after the main Buddha sculpture of the Seokguram Grotto from the eighth century. The identity of this Iron Seated Buddha can be determined using the Gelatin Dry Plate(M442-2, M442-7). In them, the Buddha has its right palm facing upwards and holds a medicine jar on its left palm. Until now, the Iron Seated Bhaiṣajyagura(Medicine) Buddha(bon1970) excavated from Wonju has been considered the sole example of an iron Medicine Buddha sculpture. However, this newly registered Iron Seated Buddha turns out to be a Medicine Buddha holding a medicine jar. Furthermore, it serves as valuable material since traces of gilding and lacquering clearly remain on its surface. This Iron Seated Buddha sculpture (bon9976) is presumed to have been produced around the ninth century under the influence of Esoteric Buddhism by the Monk Doseon(827~898), a disciple of the Monk Hyecheol, to protect the temple and help the country overcome geographical shortcomings. According to the records stored at Naewonsa Temple(later Heungnyongsa Temple), Doseon selected three significant sites, including Baegunsan Mountain, built "protector" temples, created the Bhaisajyagura Buddha triad, and enshrined them at the temples. Moreover, the inscription on the stele on the restoration of Seonamsa Temple states that Doseon constructed temples and produced iron Buddha sculptures to help the country surmount certain geographical shortcomings. Heungnyongsa Temple is located in Dopyeong-ri, Yidong-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do Province. This region appears to have been related to rituals directed to the Medicine Buddha since Yaksa Temple(literally, "the temple of medicine") was built here during the Goryeo Dynasty, and the Yaksa Temple site with its three-story stone pagoda and Yaksadong Valley still exist in Dopyeong-ri.

• MISULJARYO - National Museum of Korea Art Journal
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• v.100
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• pp.22-49
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• 2021

Bowonsa Temple (普願寺) is located to the north of Gayasan Mountain in Unsan-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do Province. The cultural properties it enshrines were produced during the late Unified Silla and early Goryeo periods, and include an Iron Seated Buddha. The Japanese Government-General of Korea Museum planned a survey on historical remains in Chungcheongnam-do Province during the early Japanese colonial era, and a field survey was conducted at the Bowonsa Temple site in 1916 (Taishō 5). During this survey, the sculpture of the Iron Seated Buddha (knee: width 212 cm x thickness 167 cm) was found enshrined in a hut. The sculpture was moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace in the following year. However, it is clear that the colossal Iron Seated Buddha was being housed at the Bowonsa Temple site at the start of the Japanese colonial era. This Iron Seated Buddha is presumed to have been produced in 955 by State Preceptor Beopin Tanmun (法印國師 坦文, 900-975). Tanmun was born into an influential family that produced many high officials. He became a leading figure in the Hwaeom (Flower Garland) school of Buddhism under the patronage of King Taejo. He also led Buddhist events at the Goryeo royal court during the reigns of King Hyejong (惠宗, r. 943-945) and King Jeongjong (定宗, r. 945-949). With the emergence of Gyunyeo (均如, 923-973), who was sponsored by Queen Daemok (大穆王后, dates unknown) of the Hwangbo clan (皇甫氏), Tanmun was transferred to Bowonsa Temple far from Kaesong. However, even while there Tanmun strengthened his ties with his supporters under the patronage of the Chungju Yu clan. He appears to have produced this colossal sculpture of Iron Seated Buddha as a prayer for longevity and a happy life for King Gwangjong (光宗, r. 949-975). The inscription on the Stele of State Preceptor Beopin at Bowonsa Temple Site that reads "[I] created a Buddha triad in gold" also suggests the Iron Seated Buddha was produced at Bowonsa Temple. This Iron Seated Buddha is thought to have been enshrined originally in a hall at Building Site No. 3 within the Bowonsa Temple precinct. Since excavations at the temple site have revealed that the temple's main hall was erected in the Joseon period, the Iron Seated Buddha might have been enshrined in a different hall at the time of its creation. It is likely that the sculpture was placed in a hall at Building Site No. 3 since Goryeo-era roof tiles and porcelain have been frequently excavated there and the remains of a square Buddhist altar have survived at the site. At the time of its creation, the Iron Seated Buddha was likely enshrined in a Goryeo-era hall at Building Site No. 3 but was transferred to the main hall during a rebuilding project undertaken at Bowonsa Temple in the Joseon period.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.30
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• pp.171-187
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• 2009

The Seated iron Vairocana Buddha statue of Dopiansa Temple, Cheolwon was designated National treasure No. 63, it is very important to rearch about Korean Buddha statue because it has an inscription on the back indicates that it was made in 865 A.D., the fifth year of the reign of King Gyeongmun(861-875) of Unified Silla(668-935), through the devoted faith of some 1,500 Buddhist followers of the Cheorwon-gun area. In this conservation treatment, for the Seated iron Vairocana Buddha statue of Dopiansa Temple, Cheolwon plating layer and cashew paint layer of the iron pedestal were removed and for the paint the Body of the Buddha, fake metal layer and plaster layer were removed, stabilizing treatment and coating treatment were done, and removal and restoration of earlobe which had been damaged and later was restored with plaster in the regilding in 1988, and the white hair on forehead was replaced with material of rock crystal, and conch-shaped hair damaged was restored on 35 spots.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.11
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

The National Chuncheon Museum has carried out a conservation process in order to prevent corrosion of the seated iron Śākyamuni Buddha statue from Goreyo Dysnasty for its exhibition. Before the conservation process, the surface of the artifact showed exfoliation and the artifact was damaged from rear to legs so exhibition was impossible. Therefore a process to get rid of pollution and to reinforce and protect the artifact was carried out. Before the reinforcing process, a basic test was carried out using micro crystalline wax type with reference to foreign and domestic experiment results. As a result, as wax(in xylene) 5wt% of Dongnam petrochemical Ltd. showed no efflorescence and little change in surface color and was convenient to use, it was chosen as a reinforcing agent and used to suppress corrosion. For the restoration of damaged parts, an internal support was made and used with an epoxy resin, allowing removable restoration, thus increasing effectiveness for exhibition.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-93
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• 2014

As the Seated Iron Buddha Statues, Vairocana Buddha of Dopiansa Temple in Cheolwon, Nosana Buddha of Samhwasa Temple in Donghae and Sakyamuni of Mangisa Temple in Pyeongtaek were made during Unified Silla to Koryo Dynasty. These are damaged degradation which are crack, break-out, peel off and various pollutant. As a result of deterioration evaluation using radiography, crack, gap, break-out, pore space and restoration material are confirmed inside in the Buddha Statues. Based on iron strength, the Buddha Statues will be maintain current state as long as a high external impact is not applied. Also, iron core and nails used for fixing of internal and external framework were observed in the Buddha Statues. According to prominent line of surface, embossed inscription, hands cast separately and combined, the Buddha Statues were made by using division casting.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.40-41
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• 2003

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.234-242
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• 2022

The study aimed to investigate the split casting method based on the recreation of the iron-seated Buddha (ISB) statue (number 1971) in the Chuncheon Museum. The statue was designed using three-dimensional scan data and reduced to half-size. Using the existing research results, the ISB statue was created by mold production and split casting. The mold was prepared by mixing sand and clay at a ratio of 3:4 and 1:3 on the outside and inside, respectively, and then casting was done. Various casting defects were observed in the ISB casting and similar shapes were seen. The casting defects included veining or finning, misrun, open or external shrinkage, surface or subsurface blowholes, surface pinholes, and shift. The microstructures were identified as branch-shaped dendrite and pearlite organizations, and black graphite was observed between the cementite organizations. The study findings may be relevant in exploring traditional casting and manufacturing techniques of ISB and may aid in the production of the original form of ISB.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.167-168
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• 2006

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 1984

This paper is a study on structural measurement by using a terrestrial camera. The aim of this paper is to understand the method of a composition by analyzing the geometrical compositive ratio of threestoried pagodas at Gamun-Sa, Gosun-Sa, Bulguk-Sa, Seated iron Buddha in Kwang-Jn, and Main-Seat Buddha at Sukkuram Cave-temple. Measured data and contour maps are accurately obtained by means of photogrammetry, and the following points are able to he found by analyzing them. At first, for Stone Pagodas. the breaths of the Okgesuks are made to the ratio, 8 : 7 : 6. And when an equililateral triangle and an 45$^{\circ}$ isosceles triangle are drawn of which the bases are the length of the upper Gabsuk, and then a circle is drawn whose radius is the length between the vertexes of the two triangles and its center is the vertex of the former the circle passes the upper line of the third Oksin. Also it can be found that an $70^{\circ}$ isosceles triangle being drawn at base line, the triangle passes the edge point of the upper Gabsuk and the center of the third Okgesuk. Also for Budha statues, it can be found that circles whose center is that of eyes can be drawn, and if 2 lines which pass the shoulder and the center of Buddha's body are extended, they intersect the knees.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.62-79
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• 2020

The rock-carved seated Avalokiteśvara statue at Ganghwa Bomunsa Temple is a giant rock-carved Buddhist statue that was built in 1928 during the Japanese colonial era. Although it is a year-recorded Buddhist statue that occupies a prominent place in modern Korean Buddhist sculpture history, it has not been the subject of in-depth discussion due to weak research on modern Buddhist sculptures. In this study, to examine the various significant aspects of the rock-carved Seated Avalokiteśvara statue at Bomunsa Temple as a modern Buddhist sculpture, I have managed to determine its construction year, artificers, and patrons by deciphering the inscription around the rock-carved statue; in addition I have researched the effects of the rock shapes and landforms on the formation of the Buddhist statue by comparing and analyzing the points of view of both artificers and worshipers. I have also identified the specific circumstances of the time of construction from interviews with the descendants of artificers. A monk from Geumgangsan Mountain, Lee Hwaeung, took the role of sponsor and chief painter to construct the rock-carved seated Avalokiteśvara statue at Bomunsa temple. In the beginning of its construction in 1928, more than 100 donators jointly sponsored the construction of the statue. Gansong Jeon Hyoungphil sponsored alone at the time of the place of worship's expansion in 1938. Bomunsa Temple has been regarded as one of the top-three sacred places of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva together with Naksansa Temple in Yang Yang and Boriam in Nam Hae, due to the construction of the rock-carved statue. It took about three months to construct the statue. Lee Hwaeung drew a rough sketch and then Un Songhag and five masons from Ganghwa Island took part in the carving process. We can observe the line drawing technique around the rock-carved statue because the statue was carved based on the rough sketch of the monk painter. The aspect of Lee Hwaeung as a painter is revealed; therefore, we can identify the clue of painting pattern leading to Seogongchulyou- Hwaunghyoungjin- Ilonghyegag. The rock-carved seated Avalokiteśvara statue at Bomunsa Temple is a typical Avalokiteśvara that wears a jeweled crown and holds Kundica. It makes a strong impression as it has a big square-shaped face and a short neck and is unsophisticated in general. The artificers solved the issue of visual distortion of the rock-carved statue caused by carving on a 10-meter high and 40-degree sloping rock by controlling motion to its maximum, omitting detailed expression by emphasizing symmetry, and adjusting the head-to-body proportion to be almost one-to-one. In this study, especially, I presume the unified form of sacred sculptures and Buddhist altars, without making a Buddhist altar like the rock-carved seated Avalokiteśvara statue at Bomunsa Temple, to be a key characteristic of modern Buddhist sculptures. Furthermore, I make newly clear that the six letters of Sanskrit carved on nimbus, which had been interpreted as a Six-Syllable Mantra, are a combination with Jeongbeopgye and Sabang Mantras. In addition, three iron rings driven on eaves rock were used as a reference point, and after construction they were used as a decoration for the Bodhisattva with hanging wind chimes.