• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.407-420
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• 2002

The Buddhist Triad Cave in Gunwi (National treasure No. 109) consists of porphyritic biotite granite, and it has been deteriorated into microorganic smears, white films, brown rusts, granular decay, color changes, and joints by the same weathering factors as rain, moisture, temperature variation and microorganic living. Main origin is probably the rain that leaks into the cave along joints in Palgongsan granite, and then its moisture grows many microorganism and is frozen over during winter. The granites around the cave regularly develop two NEE and NWW joint sets that are conjugate to be a joint system. The NEE set extends far away with narrow joint spacings and affects the leakage of the rains, and is divided into 4 joint zones, among which J$_{m}$ and J$_{3}$ immediately affect the leaking water into the cave. An extensional Joint, in northern wall of the cave, was formed by toppling of the block between J$_{m}$and J$_{3}$joint zones from widening the Jm aperture by roots of a big pine tree, and passes through the J$_{m}$joint zone. This bypass allows no circulation of small rain, but a good circulation of heavy rain from influx to the cave for a long pathway. Many Joints and cracks, in the ceiling near the cave entrance, immediately get through the J$_3$ joint zone, and have a good circulation of small rain 10 mm. Both J$_{m}$and J$_{3}$ joint zones are, therefore, chief influxes that cause leakage of the rains.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.11 no.1 s.14
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• pp.15-27
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• 2002

The Buddhist Triad Cave in Gunwi, which consists of porphyritic biotite granite, has been deteriorated by a few weatherings. Origin of the weatherings is rain that can be leaked into the cave. Therefore the author investigates a few possible joints and bypasses leaking water, and reinforces any protective schemes for the rain influx. The porphyritic granite around the cave regularly develops two NEE and NWW joint sets. The NEE joint set could be divided into 4 joint zones among which $J_m\;and\;J_3$ may directly affect the leaking water into the cave. A extensional joint, in northern wall of the cave, runs through the $J_m$ joint zone. A small rain could rarely gets through the bypass, but a heavy rain has a good circulation through the joints to be leaked into the cave for a long time because of its long way. Many joints and cracks, in the ceiling near the cave entrance, immediately get to the $J_3$ joint zone, and have a good circulation of a small rain 10 mm. It is the desirable protective schemes that forbid rains to influx along the ranges from L -9 m to +10 m in the $J_m$ joint zone and upper half circle with radius 5 m in the $J_3$ joint zone. The joint apertures should be filled with a petro-epoxy and petro-filler to stop the water flow.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.33
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• pp.162-181
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• 2000

This paper investigates sixteen rock-cut arhat images of the Koryo period at Sungbul-sa (成佛寺) in Chunan (天安), South Chungchung Province. These images, together with a Buddha triad in the center, are carved in thin relief on the large granite wall ($375cm{\times}248cm$), and below them is engraved a huge lotus petal which looks to be supporting all the images above. According to extant textual sources, arhats were popularly worshipped in the Koryo period. The Painting of Five Hundred Arhat Images was brought to Koryo from Later Liang (後梁) of the Five Dynasties (五代) in 923. From that time on, the cult of arhat had become gradually known in Koryo. More than thirty ceremonies worshipping arhats (羅漢齊) were officially held in Koryo court. The Sixteen Arhat images (十六羅漢像) were enshrined in many temples. In Boje-sa (普濟寺), which kings and aristocrats often visited for ritual ceremonies, had its main hall dominated by the Five Hundred Arhats, called Nahan-pocheon (羅漢寶殿). However, a limited number of arhat images of the Koryo period, originally made as sets of sixteen or five hundred arhats, are now extant. The Sixteen Arhat images at Sungbul-sa are unique examples that show all sixteen images in situ. The Sixteen Arhat images, though some of them are abraded, show various postures and gesture. One of them sits with his knee bent, and one arhat is sitting on a chair with his hand held upward. Each image is carved in a niche, just as the arhat images of Northern Song China are normally represented in niches of a cave, and are quite similar in style to the arhat images of the Northern Song period at Qinglindong (靑林洞) cave, Feilaifeng (飛來峰), Zejiang province (浙江省). This similarity between the arhat images of Sungbul-sa and those of Qinglindong certifies the strong impact of Song Buddhist art on Koryo frequently mentioned in texts. The Sixteen Arhat images surround the central Buddha raising his hand up to his chest. This Buddha triad could be ascribed to be either the Maitreya Buddha triad or the Sakyamuni Buddha triad based on the Lotus Sutra (妙法蓮華經). Still, the Sakyamuni Buddha triad was more often represented with sixteen or five hundred arhats in the Koryo period, as was seen in the record of Boje-sa where the Sakyamuni triad was enshrined with five hundred arhat images. The Sixteen Arhat images of Sungbul-sa arc most likely to be a rare example of Koryo Arhat images showing the Sakyamuni Buddha triad and the Sixteen Arhats who were predicted to be Buddhas by Sakyamuni in the Lotus Sutra.