• Journal of architectural history
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.57-75
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• 2007

Bulguk Temple, one of the national temples, sublimated the high formalism and symbolism into lovely art, and thus be called the pinnacle of Korean architecture. Of many characteristic structures of Bulguk Temple, the stone stereobate and stairs have a great importance in that we can read out the purpose of the architect through their relics. Especially, the stone stairs are noteworthy for they structuralize the intentional space division. The objects of this observation are Yeonwhagyo and Chilbogyo bridges at the entrance of Keungnakjeon precinct, and Cheongwoongyo and Baekwoongyo stairs at the entrance of Daewoongjun precinct. All these relics are the structures that divide the precinct areas on the basis of Buddhist theory and have strong symbolic meanings as well. Although the diverse studies have made on the structures, there are many insufficient aspects for the manifestation of the meanings. In this study, I considered the Buddhist dogmatic meanings of the structures in the formalistic view of the Buddhist architecture. The study was proceeded in the way that the establishments of former studies were fully reflected in it. Through the study, I could confirm that the objects of consideration have the double formalistic meanings and they are strongly structuralizing the symbolism.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.234-252
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• 2023

This study looked at the modification of major gardens while making Deoksugung Palace (德壽宮) a park in the Japanese colonial era. This is because landscaping work was carried out in various places from 1932 to 1933 to open Deoksugung Palace, which used to be an imperial palace, as a public recreation space. In particular, major gardens such as the front yard of Seokjojeon Hall (石造殿), the back yard of Hamnyeongjeon Hall (咸寧殿), and the back yard of Jeukjodang Hall (卽阼堂) were greatly transformed into different shapes from the original. During the first phase of construction in 1932, a water tank was installed in Seokjojeon Hall Garden, creating the first water space. This water tank was originally a structure installed in the front yard of Injeongjeon Hall (仁政殿) of Changdeokgung Palace (昌德宮). Around 1909, a water tank installed in the front yard of Injeongjeon Hall was relocated to Seokjojeon Garden in the process of turning Deoksugung Palace into a park. The water tank moved from the front yard of Injeongjeon Hall was a factor that transformed the central area of Seokjojeon Garden into a water space, and a fountain installed to replace the water tank remains to this day. The backyard of Hamnyeongjeon Hall was also renovated into a new shape during the first phase of construction. Originally, there was a terraced flowerbed called Hwagye (花階) in the backyard of Hamyujae Hall (咸有齋) and Hamnyeongjeon Hall, and it was restored from the construction that took place after the Great Fire of Deoksugung Palace. In the process of turning Deoksugung Palace into a park, a three-stage stonework was built in the front yard of Jeonggwanheon Pavilion (靜觀軒) which renovated the Hwagye in the backyard of Hamyujae Hall and Hamnyeongjeon Halll. The stonework built at that time was used as a peony garden to provide visitors with attractions after the opening of Deoksugung Palace, and it remains today with the name Jeonggwanheon's Hwagye. The backyard of the Jeukjodang Hall area is a case of damage in the second phase of construction in 1933. Like the backyard of Hamnyeongjeon Hall, the backyard of Jeukjodang Hall, where the Hwagye was originally built, was converted into a Japanese-style garden in the process of turning Deoksugung Palace into a park. The site where the Hwagye was demolished was decorated with a Japanese-style garden centered on mounding, small roads, and landscaping stones, as well as topographic control and planting work. Although there have been minor changes since liberation, the backyard of the Jeukjodang Hall area is still based on a Japanese-style garden created by turning Deoksugung Palace into a park.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.31-41
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• 2020

Since its foundation in the unified Silla period, Sunam Temple in Jeollanam-do has well preserved its reputation as a representative temple in Honam. However, during the course of history as the temple went through many changes and development, much of its landscape identity were lost or damaged. At present, we found that some of distinctive features as traditional Korean temple are lost or damaged in Sunam temple and in some cases, Japanese style features were applied which calls for urgent restoration to the original landscape style. We found that vegetation pattern of Sunam temple was quite different from those of traditional Korean temples and garden components were rather similar to Japanese garden style. There are two reasons why these changes occurred to Sunam-temple. The first reason is changes made to the temple by Japanese people during the Japanese occupation period in Korea. The second is the renovation effort of the entire temple in 1976. The study aimed to examine landcape changes of Sunam temple in detail and understand Japanese style landscape components and methods applied to the Sunam temple to untimately understand landscape identity of Sunam temple. On-site research, literature research and interviews with monks were conducted and we found that Sunam-sa Temple was significantly influenced by the landscape style of Japan, and that more Japanese-style landscapes were produced while trying to hide these elements. However, this study was limited in understanding the very original landscape form of Sunam temple before the Japanese coloniral era.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.14-23
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to preserve the sustainable traditional landscape of the "Terraced Paddy Fields of Gacheon Village, Namhae". To this end, the changes in the traditional landscape and its factors were analyzed, and a conservation plan was sought to coexist with local communities. The results are as follows; First, the traditional scenery of "Terraced Paddy Fields of Gacheon Village, Namhae" is characterized by stonework built on a steep topography to secure cultivated land and narrow rice fields. To this end, local communities have maintained the traditional landscape through their long-established traditional knowledge, but after the designation of cultural heritage, the unique landscape of the "Terraced Paddy Fields of Gacheon Village, Namhae" changed as standardized stone construction methods were applied. Recently, the Cultural Heritage Administration recognized these problems and returned to the direct repair system of local communities, so cultivated land is regaining the scenery of the past. Second, the factors that changed the traditional landscape of the "Terraced Paddy Fields of Gacheon Village, Namhae" were largely found to be a decrease in voluntary conservation consciousness, a limited management range of preservation society, a decrease in agricultural population, and a lack of skilled traditional skills. After the designation of cultural heritage, expectations for policy support by the state or local governments accelerated the damage as existing farmland was neglected, and the lack of agricultural population also resulted in the same result. The preservation society is making efforts to preserve it, but the phenomenon of excessive and insufficient management personnel is intensifying. Conflicts between residents due to profit polarization have spread to the problem of escalating. In addition, there are concerns about the loss of traditional knowledge such as step farming technology and stone construction functions. Third, to suggest a win-win plan with local communities for preserving the traditional landscape, it is necessary to seek the ways to expand farming participants and generate profits through the placement of professional careers and public-private linkage system. In addition, it is desirable to improve the profit distribution system through the preservation society to strengthen the management authority and induce participation. And a support system is required for education on the transmission of terraced farming technology and stone construction functions.