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A Study on Policies for Conservation Measures Based on the Status and Issues of Conserved Remains (보존유적 현황과 문제 인식을 통한 보존조치 제도 연구)

  • So, Jaeyun
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.53 no.3
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    • pp.110-127
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    • 2020
  • The term "conserved remains" refers to cultural remains that are preserved in accordance with the valuation of buried cultural properties when important remains are recognized in rescue excavations during construction work. South Korea's rapid economic growth and ensuing land development over the past few decades compelled a sharp increase in the number of rescue excavation cases, and, naturally, of conserved remains. Today, an increasingly large number of conserved remains have raised issues, including those concerning land expropriation as well as the management and utilization of such remains, but no clear solutions have been proposed. This study attempts to propose plans for improvement based mainly on the recognition of institutional issues rather than technical issues related to the conservation of cultural remains. This is because the identification and review of institutional deficiencies must be prioritized in order to efficiently manage conserved remains with limited resources and manpower. Among many possible proposals to demand improvement of conservation policies, one that must first be examined under the current system is the rapid transition, or review thereof, of "conserved remains" to "designated cultural properties." Unlike designated cultural properties, conserved remains are merely a temporary means of conservation, because they lack regulations for follow-ups subsequent to preliminary measures. Naturally, deferring the definition of relics as "conserved remains" for extended periods causes numerous problems. Measures to resolve such problems may include establishing a legal system to manage conserved remains at a level similar to designated cultural properties or seeking ways to improve management under the current system. This study focuses on areas where institutional improvement for conserved remains is possible by methods other than through the rapid transition to designated cultural properties and presents several proposals. Currently, conservation measures are divided into three categories: on-site conservation, relocation conservation, and record conservation. This study reclassifies these categories from three into four categories. On-site conservation includes only two categories: conserved remains and the newly-proposed soil-covered remains. Two remaining categories, the relocation conservation remains and the record conservation remains, are presented as classifications in which development projects are possible, and they are presented as alternative conservation types that contrast with on-site conservation. Unlike conserved remains, soil-covered conservation presented as a new category in which development projects are possible.

Interpretation and Meaning of Celadon Inlaid with Sanskrit Mantras in the late Goryeo Dynasty (고려 후기 범자 진언명 상감청자의 해석과 의미)

  • Lee Jun-kwang
    • MISULJARYO - National Museum of Korea Art Journal
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    • v.104
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    • pp.70-100
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    • 2023
  • The celadon made in the Goryeo era, a time when Buddhism was flourishing in Korea, naturally contains many elements of Buddhist culture. Among them, inlaid celadon with Sanskrit inscriptions bears a close relationship with esoteric Buddhism. However, the research on deciphering the Sanskrit inscriptions has made little progress due to the small number of extant examples. However, the four recent excavations at the No. 23 kiln site in Sadang-ri, Gangjin have yielded new materials that allow the existing materials to be categorized into several types. The results obtained through the reading and interpretation of the inscriptions are as follows: First, the Sanskrit characters inlaid on the celadon were parts of mantras. Inscriptions where only one character is apparent cannot be deciphered, but scholars have revealed that others are written in the manner of a wheel mantra represent the "Mantra for Purifying the Dharma-Realm," "Six-Syllable Mantra of the Vidyaraja," "Sweet Dew Mantra," "Jewel Pavilion Mantra," "Mantra of the Savior Bodhisattva," "Dharani of the Mind of the Budha of Infinite Life," and "Mantra for Extinguishing Evil Rebirth." Each mantra was written in Siddham script. Second, they are believed to have been produced during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries based on the arrangement of the inscriptions and the way the "Sweet Dew Mantra" is included in the "40 Hands Mantra." In particular, the celadon pieces with a mantra inlaid in a concentric manner are dated to the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries based on their production characteristics. Third, the interpretation of the inlaid mantras suggests that they all refer to the "Shattering Hell" and "Rebirth in the Pure Land." Based on this, it can be concluded that some of these inlaid celadon wares with mantras may have been used in Buddhist rituals for the dead, such as the ritual for feeding hungry ghosts (施餓鬼會). Also, because the Sadang-ri No. 23 kiln site and the "ga" area of the site are believed to have produced royal celadon, it is likely that these rituals were performed at the royal court or a temple under its influence. Fourth, this inlaid Goryeo celadon with Sanskrit mantras was not a direct influence of the ceramics of Yuan China. It emerged by adopting Yuan Chinese Buddhist culture, which was influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, into Goryeo Korea's existing esoteric practices. Fifth, the celadon wares inlaid with a Sanskrit mantra reveal a facet of the personal esoteric rituals that prevailed in late Goryeo society. Changes in esotericism triggered by the desire for relief from anxieties can be exemplified in epitaph tablets and coffins that express a shared desire for escaping hell and being born again in paradise. Sixth, the inlaid celadon with Sanskrit mantras shares some common features with other crafts. The similarities include the use of Siddham Sanskrit, the focus on Six-Syllable Mantra of the Vidyaraja, the correspondence with the contents of the mantras found on Buddhist bells, wooden coffins, and memorial tablets, and their arraignment in a similar manner with rooftiles. The major difference between them is that the Mantra for Extinguishing Evil Rebirth and the Sweet Dew Manta have not yet been found on other craftworks. I believe that the inscriptions of Sanskrit mantras are found mainly on inlaid celadon vessels due to their relatively low production cost and efficiency.