• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

With a view to developing a database of death years of Korean firs (Abies koreana) at Yeongsil in Mt. Halla and investigating their abrupt inter-annual growth reduction tree-ring analysis was employed. To this end, 10 living trees (YSL) were selected to establish a master chronology and 20 dead trees were used to date their dead years. To investigate the difference in death years by death types, 10 trees, which remained standing (YSSD) out of the 20 dead trees were selected. The rest 10 dead trees were already fallen (YSFD). Two increment cores per tree at breast height were extracted in contour direction using an increment borer. A 106-year master chronology (1911-2016) was successfully established from the 10 YSLs. Through cross-dating between individual YSSD time series and the master chronology, it was verified that 1 YSSD was dead in summer 1978, 1 YSSD between autumn 1999 and spring 2000, 2 YSSDs in summer 2007, 1 YSSD in summer 2010, 1 YSSD in summer 2012, and 1 YSSD in summer 2013. The youngest tree rings of 2 YSSDs having no bark were in 1977 and 2002. For the YSFDs, it was verified that 1 YSFD was dead between autumn 1997 and spring 1998, 1 YSFD between autumn 2001 and spring 2002, 2 YSFDs between autumn 2009 and spring 2010, 1 YSFD in summer 2010, and 2 YSFDs between autumn 2012 and spring 2013, while the youngest tree rings of 2 YSFDs having no bark were in 1989 and 2004. To note, the death years of two trees, one from each death type (YSSD and YSFD), could not be verified due to poor cross-dating with the master chronology. The inter-annual growth reductions of YSSD and YSFD occurred more frequently and intensively than YSL. Typically, the YSFD showed the most frequent and intensive inter-annual growth reduction. On comparing the inter-annual growth reductions with the corresponding records of typhoons however we could not find any reliable relationship. Finally, from prior reports and results of the current study it can be concluded that the death and abrupt growth reduction of korean fir at Yeongsil in Mt. Halla are not caused by only a certain environmental factor but various factors.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.700-708
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• 2019

To verify the possibility of using resistograph to estimate the age of big old living trees, we selected three Zelkova serrata and seven Pinus densiflora in Goesan. The mean diameters at breast height of Z. serrata and P. densiflora were 102 (92-116) cm and 80 (65-110) cm, respectively. The heights measured from the ground using a resistograph ranged at 1.2-4.3 m and 0.6-1.1 m for Z. serrata and P. Densiflora, respectively. The most appropriate needle speed to determine tree-ring boundaries for measuring ring width was 1500 r/min for both tree species. Alternatively, the suitable feed speeds for Z. serrata and P. densiflora were 50 cm/min and 150 cm/min, respectively. From the measured data, the mean numbers of tree rings of Z. serrata and P. densiflora were 57 (43-68) and 104 (93-124), respectively, and the mean tree-ring widths were 4.27 mm (3.18-5.09 mm) and 2.93 mm (2.32-3.34 mm), respectively. A comparison between the time series of tree-ring widths by resistograph and that from the local master chronologies tallied for the heartwood part. Finally, this study showed that resistograph can be used to estimate tree ages when a local master chronology is available.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to conduct the species identification and tree-ring dating of Lotus Pedestal of the Amitabha Statue at Ssangbong-Temple in Hwasun. The six wood blocks used for the Lotus Pedestal were hard pines (Pinus spp.; diploxilon) except one piece which was ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.). The lotus leaves surrounding the pedestal body were also made of ginkgo. Tree-ring patterns of 3 blocks were synchronized and a 133 years chronology was made. The chronology was crossdated well with the master chronology of Japanese red pine in South Korea. It dated back to A. D. 1551~1683, i.e. the last ring dated A. D. 1683. Through the estimation of the number of sapwood rings removed during carving, the felling year was calculated A. D. $1704{\pm}10$. The calligraphic writing on the Pedestal indicated that this statue was made in A. D. 1694. Therefore, the accuracy of the tree-ring dating has been proven.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2017

This study aimed at more precisely estimating the age of big old trees using dendrochronological method. Gesan-gun in Chungbuk (CBGS), Gurye-gun in Jeonnam (JNGR) and Uljin-gun in Gyeongbuk (GBUJ) were study areas and Zelkova serrata (ZS) and Pinus densiflora (PD) selected as protected trees therein were used as experimental tree species. The increment cores were extracted from 12, 8, and 6 ZSs and 10, 3, and 9 PDs in CBGS, JNGR, and GBUJ, respectively, using an increment borer (${\phi}5.2mm$). In order to clearly distinguish tree-ring boundary, the surface in the transverse section was cut for ZS using a sliding microtome and sanded for PD using a sand paper. Ring widths were measured in the resolution of 0.01 mm. Based on the measurement values, 203-year long (1813-2015) ZS local master tree-ring chronologies were successfully established and 175-year long (1841-2015) ZS local master tree-ring chronology for JNGR was also successfully established. In the case of PD, 154-, 175-, and 250-year long local master tree-ring chronologies for CBGS, JNGR, and GBUJ were successfully established, respectively. In the comparisons between local master tree-ring chronologies, they showed low t-values and Glks. According to the comparisons of the local master tree-ring chronologies with 50-year (1950~2000) average temperature and precipitation distribution maps, the annual variations of local master tree-ring chronologies seem to be determined by not temperature but precipitation. For such cross-dating therefore more local master tree-ring chronologies have to be established at the least based on the distribution map for precipitation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.2
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• pp.242-250
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• 2022

Here we aimed to date the year and season of the resin collection from Korean red pines at Worak mountain and investigate the natural healing ability of the wounds using the tree-ring analysis technique. We determined the dating of the resin collection based on the synchronization between the ring-width time series from the wound surface of the experimental trees and the local master chronology, which is the mean time series from the sound surface on the opposite side of the wounds. For the dating of resin collection, we selected thirteen Korean red pines with resin wounds. For the investigation on the annual healing ability of the wounds, we sampled three dead trees out of 13 trees as disks. Through the comparison of the individual ring-width time series from the wounds with the local master chronology, it was verified that the resin collection was undertaken between the spring of 1962 and the autumn of 1975. The mean healing length of the wounds was 15.8 cm over the preceding 42 years, making their annual mean healing 0.38 cm. Through our study we successfully verified the healing ability of the wounded Korean red pines for the resin collection as well as the undocumented resin collection history.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.44
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• pp.213-261
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• 2023

The purpose of this article was to examine whether the parallel passages from The Canonical Scripture and Jeungsan Cheonsa Gongsagi (甑山天師公事記 Records of the Reordering Works of Celestial Master Jeungsan), the first full-length record related to the life of Kang Jeungsan compiled by Lee Sang-ho, indicate the same chronology. A comparison of the contents between The Canonical Scripture and Jeungsan Cheonsa Gongsagi revealed the following. The contents of The Canonical Scripture are categorized by a table of contents. By way of contrast, the contents of Jeungsan Cheonsa Gongsagi, is organized year by year. When parallel passages appear, the two texts tend to indicate the same year for specific events, but the chronology of some events do not match. A comparison of the contents of The Canonical Scripture and the first edition of Daesoon Jeongyeong (大巡典經 The Canonical Scripture of the Great Itineration) shows the following. Once again, the contents of The Canonical Scripture are organized via a table of contents. The contents of the first edition of the Daesoon Jeongyeong are also indicated through a table of contents. When lined up for comparison, most of the passages show the same content to have occurred in matching years. However, new contents are contained in this record that were absent in Jeungsan Cheonsa Gongsagi. All of these texts contain a summary of the life of Kang Jeung-san; however, they are organized differently. Jeungsan Cheonsa Gongsagi presents that summary chronologically (year by year with some gaps in years). Daesoon Jeongyeong and The Canonical Scripture both feature a table of contents wherein chapters are based around specific themes. One key takeaway is that different passages appear in the contents of each text. Also, The Canonical Scripture and the first edition of the Daesoon Jeongyeong contain some parallel passages wherein the two texts disagree on what year some events took place. Despite the different style of organization, Jeungsan Cheonsa Gongsagi and The Canonical Scripture can still be compared and such comparison shows the same pattern as comparison between The Canonical Scripture and Daesoon Jeongyeong. As a result of organizing and comparing the contents of the table of contents with the chronological record, the parallel passages wherein chronology is disputed can be highlighted and the introduction of new passages can also be shown.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.515-525
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• 2016

The Palsangjeon Pagoda is a five-story wooden building in the Beopjusa Temple area in the Songnisan national park in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. According to historical records, it was constructed in either AD 1605 or AD 1626. To specify the construction year more precisely, we took 41 wood samples for tree-ring analysis during repair actions in 2013; 28 from red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.), 12 from oak (Quercus spp.), and 1 from fir (Abies spp.). The tree-ring boundaries became clearly visible by smoothing their cross-sectional surface and the tree-ring widths were measured under a stereo microscope. All tree-ring series were compared with each other to establish mean chronologies, which we then compared with local master chronologies established using tree rings collected from wooden elements of the Daeungjeon Hall which is the main building in the Beopjusa Temple area. As a result, it was verified that the red pines were felled in AD 1624 and in AD 1851. Moreover, it was verified that the oaks were also felled in AD 1624 based on cross-dating with the red pine chronology. We concluded that the Palsangjeon Wooden Pagoda was constructed in AD 1626, as mentioned in the historical record (Daeungdaekwangmyeongjeonbulsangki, 1630) and the letters on a purlin on the $4^{th}$ story, using oak and red pine felled in AD 1624 and repaired later on using red pine felled in AD 1851.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.152-163
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• 2014

In this study, Gwanghanru Pavilion (Namwon-si, Cheonbuk Province) was dated by tree rings of pines (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc., 'sonamu' in Korean). The present Gwanghanru Pavilion is composed of three parts: main, wing and entrance parts. The main part is known to have been built in 1626 and the entrance hall in 1879, but the date of construction of the wing part is still unknown. We dated a total of 55 wood samples which were replaced during the repair process in 2001~2002. Tree-ring dates indicated that both main and wing parts were built in 1626. Tree rings also revealed that the entrance hall was constructed in 1880~1881, and both main and wing parts were heavily repaired together while appending the entrance hall. In conclusion, dendrochronology, i.e., tree-ring dating, was a useful and accurate method to identify the critical dates-such as the dates of original construction, reconstruction, repairs and extensions-for the history of Korean traditional buildings.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.102-121
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• 2010

Three bronze bells excavated from the Hoeamsa temple site were investigated for their microstructures and chemical compositions in an effort to understand the technology applied in fabrication, which may represent the related industry established in the early Joseon period. The result shows that the bells were cast from alloys of approximately 85% copper-8% tin-7% lead. The chemical analysis for ten trace elements shows that they were all kept below 0.3 weight %, suggesting that the alloys were made of relatively well-refined copper, tin and lead. The presence of sulfur and iron indicates that chalcopyrite or chalcocite may have been used in the smelting of copper. Evidence has been found that the bells were cast by pouring the liquid metal from the top of the sand molds that were set up in an upright position. No additional treatments, thermal or mechanical, other than a little grinding were applied upon the completion of casting. After the shaping process, a balancing plate was attached to the top of the bell using a steel connection ring. The connection assembly was then fixed to the main body by using molten bronze as a solder. The surface inscription was found carved using different techniques. The differences in the order of strokes and the calligraphic style indicate that the carving was carried out by more than one master. In the absence of documentary evidence on past bronze technology, the present bronze bells with known chronology, provenance and the main agent of production, prove to be a rare and valuable archaeological material for the understanding of the related technology in use in the early Joseon period.