• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.809-824
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• 2012

Stone cultural heritages quantitatively as well as qualitatively occupy a large proportion in the designated heritages in Korea. The Stone Buddha statue in the Gulbulsa temple site, designated as the No. 121 treasure in 1935, is located in the southwestern slope of Mt. Sogeumgang, Dongcheon-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk Province and Buddhist images are sculptured on four sides of a 3.5m-tall gigantic rock. The damage states result from the weathering degree and indicate high correlation with the water contents. The water contents in the Stone Buddha of Gulbulsa temple site are highest at the east side and then decrease in order of north, south and west sides. These are proportional to the durations of sunshine. Moreover, the Stone Buddha of Gulbulsa temple site with dense joints, repaired areas and vegetated areas by lichens shows high water contents and damage states.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-44
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• 1990

The present study investigated the concept of Buddha in 9- 12- year-old children who were in the concrete operational stage. The concept of Buddha was investigated in the following dimensions:form, competence and role of Buddha, feelings toward Buddha, and prayer to Buddha. Questionaire data were gathered from 143 children attending the Bulkwang Sunday School Statistical analysis was by Chi square. The children perceived Buddha as (1) a statue or a monk living in their mind and in heaven; and (2) unrestricted and superhuman but different from the creator, keeping an eye on them all the time and everywhere. The role of Buddha was perceived as one of giving blessing with good things to those who pray. The children had diverse feelings of awe, thankfulness, fear and anger toward Buddha. Most of the children were confident that Buddha would respond to their prayers but a few showed some doubt. Children in the concrete operational stage were less credulous than those in the pre-operational stage. More than half of the childen reported that they experience the fulfilment of their prayers. The children had deep faith in attaining Buddhahood.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.562-577
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• 2020

In this study, to conserve the clay seated Vairocana Buddha triad in Seonunsa temple, Gochang (Treasure 1752), the primary materials employed for creating the clay Buddha statues were scientifically analyzed. By analyzing the soil layer constituting the Buddha statues, it is observed that the said layer comprises sand having particle size greater than that of medium sand and soil having particle size smaller than that of fine sand, which were used in a ratio of 7:3, along with the bast fibers of paper mulberry (Broussonetia kazinoki). Hence, the aforementioned soil layer is composed of a mixture of sand and weathered soil, along with bast fibers to prevent scattering. By analyzing the tree species, it is found that the wooden materials constituting the bottom board and the interior of Buddha's sleeves of the Amitabha Buddha statue, Vairocana Buddha statue, and Medicine Buddha statue are hard pines (Pinus spp.). Additionally, three layers are found in the cross section of the gold layer. Furthermore, each of the hair sections of the Buddha statues is composed of earthy materials such as quartz, albite, microcline, mica, and magnetite, and the hair surface was painted by incorporating black materials containing magnetite.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.227-236
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• 2019

Medium to coarse-grained biotite granodiorite was used to build the Standing Buddha Statue in the Gwanchoksa temple. An ancient document revealed the period and place of constructing the statue: it was made in the northwest of Mt. Banyasan and then moved eastward. Also, the comparison of standing Buddha statue and basement rock in terms of texture, magnetic susceptibility, and gamma spectrometer shows that they have similar characteristics, which is considered to be the same provenance rock. The damage caused by surface contaminants observed in the statue seems to be a combined effect of environmental factors and aging of the epoxy resin. After removal of the contaminants in 2007, the contamination has resumed, and continuous monitoring is necessary. Algal engraftment becomes faster when biological contamination occurs on the surface of stone cultural heritage. Since the secondary lichen growth forms a symbiosis with mold, it is necessary to observe the spatial and distributional changes. Also, the aging epoxy resin may cause secondary damage due to contaminants generated due to the determination of salts, and deterioration of bonding strength due to breaking out. Thus it is desirable to secure stability through proper conservation management.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.242-281
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• 2010

There are a large number of Buddhist cultural relics in Mt. Namsan. The cultural relics carry the spirit of people of Shila who dream of Buddhist Elysium and the establishment of Buddhist nation. In the valley and the top of the mountain and on various rock cliff, stone statues of Buddha and stone pagodas stand in harmony with nature. For that reason, Mt. Namsan is called an open-air museum. And it played an important role in establishing 'The UNESCO World Heritage' status for Gyeongdju in December 2000. But sadly, there are many stone relics that have eroded away and damaged from collapsing in the passage of time. The seated stone statue of Buddha in Samreoung valley of Mt. Namsan is one of them. It was created between the 8th and 9th century, and restored without much care nor extensive historical research in 1923. As a result, The face of the Buddha remained with concrete mortar and its nimbus fallen backward and destroyed. Therefore, restoration and repair as well as creation of a statue environment for the statue were urgent. So we immediately started in restoration and repair. First, through the archaeological excavation around the stone Buddha, we carried the stone Buddha on the original position. In order to restore the statues to its original glory created by the Unified Shila Dynasty, we created a restoration plan in corporation with art historians and historians, then restored the jaw and the damage nimbus. Second, we made the weathering & damage map of the stone Buddha. In order to prevent second damage, we cleaned the surface of contaminants with distilled water. Third, we studied restoration method to prevent artificial damage. We recreated parts of his face and halo. Then each parts of the statue were restored to their original position. In the whole process of restoration, we tried to use traditional techniques.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.150-169
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• 2020

Surveys of Buddhist ruins at Namsan in Gyeongju began in earnest during the Japanese colonial era, undertaken by Japanese scholars. These surveys of Buddhist remains in Namsan made during the colonial period should be seen as previous research which cannot be ignored in any in-depth study of Buddhist ruins in Gyeongju. Full-scale surveys of Buddhist ruins at Namsan began in the 1920s. Previous surveys conducted around the time of the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910 are generally viewed as only representing preliminary investigations and, thus, have not received much attention. However, these early surveys are significant in that they led to the Buddhist ruins on Namsan becoming widely known in the 1910s and served as the foundations for later studies. The removal of the Seated Medicine Buddha from Samneung Valley in Gyeongju in 1915 and its subsequent exhibition at the Joseon Local Products Expo, which marked the fifth anniversary of the Japanese administration of Korea, was especially important in garnering attention for Namsan's wealth of Buddhist artifacts, as the statue was placed in the main hall of the art museum and attracted a great deal of interest from visitors. It is typically thought that this Seated Medicine Buddha was exhibited in 1915 because it was the most beautiful and well-preserved statue from Namsan. However, the removal of this statue was closely related to the proposed move of the Seokguram statue to Seoul around the time of Korea's annexation. The plan to move Seokguram to Seoul was primarily devised by Terauchi Masatake, and the plan, based on Ilseontongjo-ron ('日鮮同祖論'), a historical theory that prehistoric Korean and Japanese people were of the same blood, and Joseon Jeongcheasoeng-ron ('朝鮮停滯性論'), a historical theory arguing that development had stagnated in Korea, was intended to be a visual demonstration of a new era for Korea. This new era was to proceed under the rule of the Japanese Empire through the dissolution of Gyeongbokgung, the symbol of the Joseon Dynasty, which would be replaced with past glories as symbolized by the statue of Buddha. However, as the plan floundered, the replacement for Seokguram in Seoul ended up being none other than the Seated Medicine Buddha of Samneung Valley. Surveys of the Seated Medicine Buddha began in 1911, administered by Sekino Tadashi, but he likely learned of the statue's location from Moroga Hideo or Kodaira Ryozo, Japanese residents of Gyeongju. It is also probable that these Japanese residents received a request from the Japanese Government General of Korea to find a Buddha statue that was worthy of being displayed at exhibitions. In this way, we can say that the transfer of the Seated Medicine Buddha to Seoul was the result of close cooperation between the Government General, Sekino Tadashi, and Japanese residents of Gyeongju. This also had the effect of removing the magical veil which had shrouded the Buddhist ruins of Namsan. In other words, while the early surveys of Buddhist ruins on Namsan are significant, it is difficult to argue that the surveys were undertaken for purely academic purposes, as they were deeply related to the imperial ambitions of Governor-General Terauchi which encompassed the plans to move Seokguram to Seoul and the successful hosting of the 1915 Expo. It should also be pointed out that the failure of the plan to move Seokguram to Seoul and the preservation of the Seated Stone Buddha of Mireuggok at Namsan was in no small part due to resistance from Korean residents in Gyeongju. Although it is not described in detail in the paper, research is needed which shows that the Korean residents of Gyeongju were not simple bystanders, but agents of history.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.295-298
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• 2005

The growth of subaerial microalgae on historic buildings or various cultural properties causes discoloration and physico-chemical deterioration of the surfaces. We collected a subaerial chlorophyte, Chlorella sp., from the stone Standing Buddha statue at Jungwon Miruksazi, which is a national treasure of Korea, and found dormant, thickwalled spores with regular pentagonal ornamentation along with the vegetative Chlorella cells. The morphology of Chlorella resting spores was compared to that of the other green algal resting cells. The ornamented spores and smooth-walled vegetative cells revived in 2 weeks in a liquid freshwater medium and started reproduction by autospores. To our knowledge, the ability of Chlorella to form ornamented dormant spores in drought condition was not previously recorded. The ornamentation of spores would supplement taxonomic characteristics of this genus.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.30
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• pp.63-77
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• 2009

Scientific studies of conservation techniques and materials in Korea have experienced fast development since international practice and academic knowledge have been introduced to Korea from Japan, France, Germany, and etc from the late 1960s. In recent years, it has been observed that the academic standard of research and the level knowledge of the field in Korea at present are far advanced to compete with many countries. However, many Korean cases still have displayed that the standard and the quality of conservation practice need to be improved. This research examined several cases of derelict restoration of metal relics executed by non-conservators and the effects of their ignorant use of irreversible materials on the valuable objects. The purpose of the study is to display the problem of such treatments and to suggest a need of framework to prevent the loss of original form from them. Metal Buddha statue (Cosmic Buddha) in Borim Temple (National Treasure No. 117), which was conserved by an unexperienced non-conservator, has suffered from a serious problem of corrosion because of the use of destructive material, iron chloride. Another case for metal Buddha statue in Dopian Temple (National Treasure No. 63) displays a representative example of using irreversible materials, Cashew and such ignorant application made a later conservation treatment so difficult in removing the material from the surface of the statue. In conclusion, the research argued that the understanding of materials used in the objects, and the value of relics is important, and pre-experiments before applying conservation materials to a valuable heritage are essential in the conservation treatment.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.321-332
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• 2013

Namwon Singyeri Maaeyeoraejwasang (Rock-Carved Seated Buddha Statue) is composed mainly foliated granite and is different metamorphic grade and weathering degree on rock location. As the results of deterioration evaluation, upper part of the buddha statue was estimated that granularity decomposition was serious and rock strength was lower than lower part. Furthermore organism assessed most effect of among weathering factors. Chl. a amount of organism species were calculated $0.2{\mu}g/cm^2$ of crustaceous lichen, $1.1{\mu}g/cm^2$ of foliose lichen, $2.3{\mu}g/cm^2$ of bryophyte. Organism was taken treatment in order of amount of Chl. a and pre-cleaning, dry cleaning, wet cleaning in sequence. It should be establish conservation plan that strengthening in consideration of lithology characteristics and setting in good condition environment to conserve long-term of Maaeyeoraejwasang.