• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.24
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• pp.23-36
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• 2008

The stone Buddhas and Shrine of Unjusa temple (Korea Treasure No. 797) in Hwasun formed in Koryo Dynasty are unique style which the Buddha faces each other the back parts of south and north within the stone Shrine. The stone Buddhas and Shrine are highly evaluated in historical, artistic and academic respects. But, the stone properties have been exposed in the open system various aspects of degradations weathered for a long time without specific protective facilities. The rock materials of the stone Buddhas and Shrine are about 47 blocks, and total press load is about 56.6 metric ton. The host rocks composed mainly of white grey hyaline lithic tuff and rhyolitic tuff breccia. In addition, biotite granite used as part during the restoration works. The chemical index of alteration for host tuffaceous rocks and the replacement granites range from 52.1 to 59.4 and 50.0 to 51.0, respectively. Weathering types for the stone Buddhas and Shrine were largely divided with physical, chemical and biological weathering to make a synthetic deterioration map according to aspects of damage, and estimate share as compared with surface area. Whole deterioration degrees are represented that physical weathering appeared exfoliation. Chemical weathering is black coloration and biological weathering of grey lichen, which show each lighly deterioration degrees. According to deterioration degree by direction of stone Buddhas and Shrine, physical weathering mostly appeared by 39.1% on the sorthern part, and chemical weathering is 61.2% high share on the western part. Biological weathering showed 38.3% the largest distribution on the southern part. Therefore, it is necessary to try hardening for the parts with serious cracks or exfoliations, remove secondary contaminants and organisms through regular cleaning. Also necessary to make a plan to remove moisture of the ground which causes weathering, and estimate that need established and scientific processing through clinical demonstration of conservation plan that chooses suitable treatment.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.90-119
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the significance of Buddhist stone art in the cultural zone of Mt. Bukhan. Mt. Bukhan witnessed the prevalence of Buddhist culture in and around it since the introduction of Korean Buddhism and served as the center of Buddhist culture in the nation, where new Buddhist temples continued to be built from the Three Kingdoms Period to the Joseon Period. Of the characteristics of its Buddhist culture, it is very noteworthy that the construction of military temples in and around it in the latter half of Joseon supported the function of Buddhist temples as basic places of worship. These military temples were closely related to the mountain's geopolitical location, traffic routes, and position in the national defense system-- its mountain fortress was an important defense facility. The stone art works of Mt. Bukhan can be categorized into various types, including stone stupas, stone pagodas, rock-carved Buddhas, stone Buddhas, towers and monuments (stone monuments), stone lanterns, flagpole supports, and rock-carved sarira pagodas. There are diverse types of stone art left on the mountain. As for its period characteristics, it is clear that the Buddhist art of Silla spread even to the Gyeonggi region, and that most of the works of stone art were created during the first half of Goryeo and the latter half of Joseon. Starting in Goryeo, the Buddhist temples of the mountain maintained close relations with the royal court by operating as the royal buddhist shrine for the royal family. In the latter part of Joseon, the construction of the Bukhan mountain fortress became the most important opportunity to produce stone art. As for the distribution of the stone artwork, it was usually created in the west part of the mountain from Unified Silla to the first half of Goryeo and in the southern and eastern parts of the mountain from the latter half of Goryeo to the latter half of Joseon. It is estimated that central Buddhist temples of the mountain changed due to Silla's military goal of advancing toward the west coast along the Han River in its early days and the construction of the Bukhan mountain fortress in the latter half of Joseon to protect the capital city. Finally, the stone art of Mt. Bukhan holds very high significance in art history because various types of stone art continued to be created on and around the mountain, the stone artwork of the mountain reflected representative styles for each period, and e rare and ofthe works produced on the mountain exemplified rare and unique styles.