• Title/Summary/Keyword: Buddhist sculpture

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Nondestructive Deterioration Diagnosis and Environmental Investigation of the Stupa of the Buddhist Monk Soyo in Baegyangsa Temple, Jangseong (장성 백양사 소요대사탑의 비파괴 훼손도 진단과 입지환경 검토)

  • Kim, Yuri;Lee, Myeong Seong;Chun, Yu Gun;Lee, Mi Hye;Jwa, Yong-Joo
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.52-63
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    • 2016
  • The Stupa of Buddhist Monk Soyo in Baegyangsa temple, Jangseong, was erected to pay a tribute to the achievement of the Buddhist monk Soyo, who worked for Baegyangsa temple as a chief monk, and is a bellshaped stupa with the detailed pattern of a Korean traditional buddhist bell. It is composed of pinkish-grey sandstone and the body of the stupa was damaged by longitudinal cracks on the front and back areas and the exfoliation caused break-out in the most part of the sculpture on the left and right areas. According to the ultrasonic test and infrared thermography analysis for physical deterioration diagnosis, most weathering aspects appeared on the body of the stupa and some exfoliated part that could not be seen with the naked eye was detected 6.1% and 5.9% on the left and right side respectively. Hyperspectral imaging analysis was also carried out to assess biological deterioration. According to the result, the surface of the stupa was covered 71.8 ~ 79.9% with vegetation like algae, lichen and moss. NDVI(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) was higher relatively on the bottom part near the ground, right and back areas of the stupa. Therefore conservation treatment for the exfoliated part and bio-deterioration is necessary and the environment condition needs to be fixed to prevent extra damages on the stupa.

Conservation and Pedestal Stability Estimation of the Bukji-ri Stone Pensive Bodhisattva of Bonghwa (봉화 북지리 석조반가상의 보존 및 받침대 안정성 평가)

  • Chae, Woomin;Jang, Minkyeong;Yi, Younghee;Hwang, Hyunsung
    • Conservation Science in Museum
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    • v.17
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    • pp.85-100
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    • 2016
  • The Bukji-ri Stone Pensive Bodhisattva of Bonghwa in the collection of Kyungpook National University Museum was transported to the National Museum of Korea for display in a special exhibition('Masterpieces of Early Buddhist Sculpture 100 BCE - 700 CE') and therefore underwent conservation ahead of the exhibition's start date. The stone sculpture had visibly encrusted surface dirt, granular disintegration and fissures upon arrival. Notably, a crack running obliquely across its lower half rendered the object unable to support its own weight without a pedestal, so one was created in order to maintain the sculpture in an upright position while on exhibition. The sculpture was further examined using a polarizing microscope and a stereoscopic microscope. SEM-EDS resulted in petrographic analysis of the stone's mineral composition and identification of its surface contaminants. Polarizing light microscopy confirmed biotite granite as the main mineral component of the object. Several urethane resins cast in round cross-sections were inserted into the newly made pedestal and stability tests were perform to measure the frictional force of the resins. An additional test was performed to compare urethane resin and epoxy resin, with results showing urethane to have a higher coefficient of friction. Utilizing a pedestal with urethane resin effectively ensured the stability of the Bukji-ri Stone Pensive Bodhisattva of Bonghwa during the aforementioned exhibition.

A Study on the Buddha's Life Relief in the Gupta Period at Sarnath, India (인도 굽타시대 사르나트 불전도에 대한 일고찰)

  • KOH, Jeong Eun
    • SUVANNABHUMI
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.21-41
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    • 2009
  • The Art of the Buddha's Life which depicts the life and before-life of Buddha flourished in Sanci and Bharhut in the ancient India and in Gandhara during the Kushan period. More than one hundred scenes from Buddha's life were represented in the form of relief sculpture or wall painting. They are found in Gandhara and Mathura during the Kushan period, Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda during the Satavahana period, in Mathura and Sarnath during the Gupta period, and during the Pala Period. They unfolded in various forms and styles according to the text(Buddhist scripture), layout, and expressive technique. In Mathura, where the Evolution of the Buddha image was made about the same time as in Gandhara during the Kushan period, the Buddha's life was presented in a number of scenes related to the sacred sites; in four or eight scenes. In the case of the Eight Great Events of the Buddha's Life, the four scenes out of eight were different from those that were represented in Sarnath during the Gupta period, manifesting a transitional period. The Gupta period is widely known as the time when the classic artistic style was established. The art of Buddha's Life was produced only in Sarnath during this period, and it was the time when the Eight Great Events of the Buddha's Life was established as iconography, providing a model for those of the Pala period. Also, it was the time when the single image of Buddha was produced such as the 'Buddha delivering his first sermon,' 'Buddha's Enlightenment,' and 'Buddha's Death,' thus showing the emergence of the single Buddha image from the narrative Buddha's life image. In this paper, a general introduction of the relief sculpture of the Buddha's life from Sarnath during the Gupta period was given. The art of Buddha's life gave great influences on that of China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, and can be emphasized as an important subject in understanding the development of the Buddhist art in East Asia. A further study will be made on the art of Buddha's Life of Southeast Asia in the future, which will enhance the understanding of the art of Buddha's Life in East Asia as a whole.

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A Study on the Iron Seated Buddha at Bowonsa Temple in Seosan (서산(瑞山) 보원사(普願寺) 철조여래좌상(鐵造如來坐像) 고찰(考察))

  • Kang, Kunwoo
    • MISULJARYO - National Museum of Korea Art Journal
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    • v.100
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    • pp.22-49
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    • 2021
  • Bowonsa Temple (普願寺) is located to the north of Gayasan Mountain in Unsan-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do Province. The cultural properties it enshrines were produced during the late Unified Silla and early Goryeo periods, and include an Iron Seated Buddha. The Japanese Government-General of Korea Museum planned a survey on historical remains in Chungcheongnam-do Province during the early Japanese colonial era, and a field survey was conducted at the Bowonsa Temple site in 1916 (Taishō 5). During this survey, the sculpture of the Iron Seated Buddha (knee: width 212 cm x thickness 167 cm) was found enshrined in a hut. The sculpture was moved to Gyeongbokgung Palace in the following year. However, it is clear that the colossal Iron Seated Buddha was being housed at the Bowonsa Temple site at the start of the Japanese colonial era. This Iron Seated Buddha is presumed to have been produced in 955 by State Preceptor Beopin Tanmun (法印國師 坦文, 900-975). Tanmun was born into an influential family that produced many high officials. He became a leading figure in the Hwaeom (Flower Garland) school of Buddhism under the patronage of King Taejo. He also led Buddhist events at the Goryeo royal court during the reigns of King Hyejong (惠宗, r. 943-945) and King Jeongjong (定宗, r. 945-949). With the emergence of Gyunyeo (均如, 923-973), who was sponsored by Queen Daemok (大穆王后, dates unknown) of the Hwangbo clan (皇甫氏), Tanmun was transferred to Bowonsa Temple far from Kaesong. However, even while there Tanmun strengthened his ties with his supporters under the patronage of the Chungju Yu clan. He appears to have produced this colossal sculpture of Iron Seated Buddha as a prayer for longevity and a happy life for King Gwangjong (光宗, r. 949-975). The inscription on the Stele of State Preceptor Beopin at Bowonsa Temple Site that reads "[I] created a Buddha triad in gold" also suggests the Iron Seated Buddha was produced at Bowonsa Temple. This Iron Seated Buddha is thought to have been enshrined originally in a hall at Building Site No. 3 within the Bowonsa Temple precinct. Since excavations at the temple site have revealed that the temple's main hall was erected in the Joseon period, the Iron Seated Buddha might have been enshrined in a different hall at the time of its creation. It is likely that the sculpture was placed in a hall at Building Site No. 3 since Goryeo-era roof tiles and porcelain have been frequently excavated there and the remains of a square Buddhist altar have survived at the site. At the time of its creation, the Iron Seated Buddha was likely enshrined in a Goryeo-era hall at Building Site No. 3 but was transferred to the main hall during a rebuilding project undertaken at Bowonsa Temple in the Joseon period.

Dedicatory Inscriptions on the Amitabha Buddha and Maitreya Bodhisattva Sculptures of Gamsansa Temple (감산사(甘山寺) 아미타불상(阿彌陁佛像)과 미륵보살상(彌勒菩薩像) 조상기(造像記)의 연구)

  • Nam, Dongsin
    • MISULJARYO - National Museum of Korea Art Journal
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    • v.98
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    • pp.22-53
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    • 2020
  • This paper analyzes the contents, characteristics, and historical significance of the dedicatory inscriptions (josanggi) on the Amitabha Buddha and the Maitreya Bodhisattva statues of Gamsansa Temple, two masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture from the Unified Silla period. In the first section, I summarize research results from the past century (divided into four periods), before presenting a new perspective and methodology that questions the pre-existing notion that the Maitreya Bodhisattva has a higher rank than the Amitabha Buddha. In the second section, through my own analysis of the dedicatory inscriptions, arrangement, and overall appearance of the two images, I assert that the Amitabha Buddha sculpture actually held a higher rank and greater significance than the Maitreya Bodhisattva sculpture. In the third section, for the first time, I provide a new interpretation of two previously undeciphered characters from the inscriptions. In addition, by comparing the sentence structures from the respective inscriptions and revising the current understanding of the author (chanja) and calligrapher (seoja), I elucidate the possible meaning of some ambiguous phrases. Finally, in the fourth section, I reexamine the content of both inscriptions, differentiating between the parts relating to the patron (josangju), the dedication (josang), and the prayers of the patrons or donors (balwon). In particular, I argue that the phrase "for my deceased parents" is not merely a general axiom, but a specific reference. To summarize, the dedicatory inscriptions can be interpreted as follows: when Kim Jiseong's parents died, they were cremated and he scattered most of their remains by the East Sea. But years later, he regretted having no physical memorial of them to which to pay his respects. Thus, in his later years, he donated his estate on Gamsan as alms and led the construction of Gamsansa Temple. He then commissioned the production of the two stone sculptures of Amitabha Buddha and Maitreya Bodhisattva for the temple, asking that they be sculpted realistically to reflect the actual appearance of his parents. Finally, he enshrined the remains of his parents in the sculptures through the hole in the back of the head (jeonghyeol). The Maitreya Bodhisattva is a standing image with a nirmanakaya, or "transformation Buddha," on the crown. As various art historians have pointed out, this iconography is virtually unprecedented among Maitreya images in East Asian Buddhist sculpture, leading some to speculate that the standing image is actually the Avalokitesvara. However, anyone who reads the dedicatory inscription can have no doubt that this image is in fact the Maitreya. To ensure that the sculpture properly embodied his mother (who wished to be reborn in Tushita Heaven with Maitreya Bodhisattva), Kim Jiseong combined the iconography of the Maitreya and Avalokitesvara (the reincarnation of compassion). Hence, Kim Jiseong's deep love for his mother motivated him to modify the conventional iconography of the Maitreya and Avalokitesvara. A similar sentiment can be found in the sculpture of Amitabha Buddha. To this day, any visitor to the temple who first looks at the sculptures from the front before reading the text on the back will be deeply touched by the filial love of Kim Jiseong, who truly cherished the memory of his parents.

Species of Wooden Buddhist Statues of the Late Joseon Dynasty in Jeollado, South Korea (전라도지역 조선후기 목조불상의 수종)

  • Park, Won-Kyu;Oh, Jung-Ae;Kim, Yo-Jung;Kim, Sang-Kyu;Park, Suh-Young;Son, Byung-Hwa;Choi, Sun-Il
    • Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.72-82
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    • 2010
  • The objective of this study is to identify the species of 17 wooden Buddhist statues of the late Joseon Dynasty (the 17th and 18th century) in Jeollado, southwestern region of Korea. The bodies of statues were made of Ginkgo (Gingko biloba L.: 88%) and alder (Alnus spp.: 12%). The hands of statues were alder(64%), willow (Salix spp.: 27%) and Ginkgo(9%). The bottoms of hollow bodies were covered all with Japanese red-pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z., 'sonamu') panels. The main species of statue body, Ginkgo tree was known to be introduced to Korea from China with Buddhism. The results indicated that Ginkgo trees of Korea in the 17th century had already become large and rich enough to be used for most of statues. Ginkgo wood has low shrinkage and even texture, which are crucial for carving sculptures. Alder and willow woods used for statue hands have fine and firm textures. The pedestals for these statues were also made of red pine wood. Red pine woods have rather high shrinkage and low hardness, but it is versatile woods strong enough to support heavy statues.

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Buddhist Sculpture of Late Silla and Early Goryeo Period at Myeongju and the Gulsan School of Seon Buddhism (명주지역 나말여초 불교조각과 굴산선문)

  • Choe, Songeun
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.45 no.2
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    • pp.54-71
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    • 2012
  • This paper investigates Buddhist sculptures of the Gulsan-sa School of Seon Buddhism, which was established by the priest Beomil(梵日) at Myeongju(溟州), present-day Gangneung(江陵) area, and prospered until the late Goryeo period. There are very few surviving Buddhist images at Gulsan2 temple-site showing the Buddhist art when Beomil or his disciples, Gaecheong(開淸) and Haengjeok(行寂), were active, except a set of huge stone pillars for temple-banners and a stone monk stupa. It is therefore necessary to focus on pieces of artworks in Gangneung and nearby areas to explore the characteristics of Buddhist art of Gulsan-sa from the late Silla to early Goryeo period. For example, the stone relief seated Buddha image, one of Four Buddhas of Four Directions, and a stone relief of standing Guardian King both from the stone pagoda at Mujin temple-site(無盡寺址) can be compared with stupa reliefs at the capital Gyeongju area in their high quality of carving. The stone octagonal base showing seven lions on each of seven sides at Boheon-sa(普賢寺) demonstrates that it was made as a part of an octagonal lotus pedestal for a Vairocana Buddha now lost. Since Boheon-sa was erected by Gaechung, a disciple of Beomil as a branch of Gulsan-sa, it is fair to assume that the Vairocana image at Boheon-sa might have been closely related to the Buddhist images at Gulsan-sa in its style and iconography. The stone seated Bodhisattva from Hansong temple-site(寒松寺址) displays a benign face, exquisite necklace, and exotic iconography in its hand gesture and high cylindrical crown. The stone seated Buddha at Cheonghak-sa(靑鶴寺), brought from a temple-site where fragments of roof-tiles with the inscription of Heukam-sa(黑岩寺) were discovered, displays the late Silla and early Goryeo period. Heukam-sa seems to have been related to Gulsan-sa or have been one of the branches of Gulsan-sa. Extant fragments of artworks at Myeongju implicate the high quality of Buddhist art of Gulsan-sa in its iconography and style as well as unique features of Gulsan-sa Seon School.

Geological Study on the Rocks of the Stone-Monuments-at the around the weonju City, Weonju-gun, Hwoengseong-gun and Hongcheon-gun (석조문화재의 암석에 관한 지질학적 조사 연구 (I)-원주시, 원주군, 횡성군 및 홍천군 지역을 중심으로)

  • Lee, Sang-Hun
    • 보존과학연구
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    • s.13
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    • pp.14-36
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    • 1992
  • The investigation has been made on the rocks consisting the pagoda(12), Buddhist Statues(9) Buldaejwa and cakra(2, rewpectively), stele(5), and Flagpole wupport and stupa(6) which are stood in Weonju city, Weonju-gun, Hwoengseong-gun and Hongcheon-gun, Kangweondo. These rock-monuments range mostly in age from late Shilla Kingdom to middle Korye Kingdom. The geology around this region is mainly composed of Precambrian metamorphic rocks and mesozoic granitic rocks. The granitic rocks are largely divided into Jurassic and cretaceous ones which are slightly different in rock phase. The main rock phase consisting the monumentsare are coarse biotite granite with minor amount of hornblende in Jurassic age. Variation in rock phase is abserved even in part of the stone used in the monuments. Inclusions composed of biotite and hornblende, porphyritic texture with microcline phenocryst, igneous lineation and exfoliation according to weathering are observable in all rocks in these monuments. In the case of stele whose a body and a capstone is remained, one is composed of black slate and the other white limestone. But the turtle shaped pedestal is constituted of coarse biotite granite. These stone-monuments are strongly weathered and exfoliated out about 1∼2mm.In case of exfoliated weathering along igneous lineation, some are taken off about 3∼5mm thick. In some monuments, the degree of weathering is somewhat different according to position, grade of sculpture, and biological activity.

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A Study on the Background of the Rock-cut Sculpture of Two Buddhas Seated Side-by-Side in Wonpung-ri, Goesan (괴산 원풍리 마애이불병좌상의 조성 배경)

  • Jeong, Seongkwon
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.53 no.3
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    • pp.224-243
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    • 2020
  • The rock-cut relief of two Buddhas seated side-by-side in Wonpungri is a large Buddha sculpture in relief on the side of a cliff in Wonpung-ri, Goesan. This Buddha sculpture is from the Buddhist scripture Sutra of the Lotus. <法華經> Two seated Buddhas statues were prevalent in the Balhae Kingdom, but this was not popular in Silla and Goryeo. In the main text, the time that the two seated Buddhas in Wonpung-ri was created is identified as being during the 10th century. King Gwangjong created a Buddha statue for political purposes. The relief of two seated Buddha image carved on a cliff is located on an important traffic route over the Sobaek Mountain Range. After King Gwangjong took the throne, he paid close attention to the reigning powers of Jincheon and Cheongju because the people of Jincheon and Cheongju were engaged in a power struggle against Gwangjong. The huge relief of two seated Buddhas statue shows the authority of King Gwangjong. In particular, the people of Jincheon and Cheongju had to see this Buddha statue when crossing the Sobaek Mountain Range. The image contained in the relief of the two seated Buddhas features many characteristics of the sculpture style of the Balhae Kingdom. After the fall of Balhae, many of the Balhae people settled in Mungyeong. Balhae people from Mungyeong participated in the production of the relief of the two seated Buddhas. Through the relief of the two seated Buddhas, King Gwangjong wanted to show the people of Jincheon and Cheongju that the Balhae people were supporting him. The relief of two seated Buddhas reflects the historical situation of the King Gwangjong era in the late 10th century and the style of sculpture.

The Origin of the Square-Shaped Jangmyeongdeung of Jeongneung Royal Tomb and Its Stylistic Development -In Comparison with the Buddhist Temple Stone Lanterns- (조선 정릉(貞陵) 사각 장명등(四角長明燈) 양식의 원류와 전개 -사찰 석등과의 비교를 통해 -)

  • Kim, Ji Yeon
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.43 no.4
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    • pp.24-55
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    • 2010
  • Jangmyeongdeung Lantern (貞陵長明燈) refers to the stone lantern placed in front of the royal tomb. It serves both symbolic and decorative purposes; symbolic because it is supposed to guard and illuminate the buried, and decorative because it is a work of sculpture that adorns the entire graveyard. The Jangmyeongdeung of Jeongneung was the earliest stone lantern to be produced during the Joseon period. Its square shape is unique among those from the early to mid-Joseon period. The three major parts of Jangmyeongdeung - the stand, the lantern, and the roof-shaped cover parts - are square in shape, differing from the octagonal shaped Jangmyeongdeung. The stand consists of three single stone blocks, the Hadaeseok(下臺石), Ganjuseok(竿柱石), and Sangdaeseok(上臺石). The Hwasaseok(火舍石), or the lantern part, is also a single stone block. Jangmyeongdeung of Jeongneung succeeds the style of those of Hyeon-neung and Jeongneung(玄正陵) of the Goryeo period and is of a better artistic quality. As the first Jangmyeongdeung lantern, it is a refined work of art that marks the foundation of the Joseon Kingdom. This paper tries to ascertain the stylistic origin of the square-shaped Jangmyeongdeung of Jeongneung and compare it with those of Buddhist temples. Consequently, similarities were found among the stone lanterns of Zen priests 'Jigong'(指空) and 'Nawong'(懶翁) in the Hweamsa Temple(檜巖寺) site from the late Goryeo period, those of Zen priest 'Muhak'(無學) of the Hweamsa Temple site, and those of national priest 'Bogak'(普覺) of Cheongnyongsa Temple(靑龍寺) from the early Joseon period. Primarily, this is because the three components(the stand, the lantern part, and the roof-shaped cover) are essentially square-shaped. Second, as the Ganjuseok(one of the components of the stand) became shorter, the stand took a more stable form. Third, the Hwasaseok(the lantern part) consists of two stone blocks joined together. Fourth, the roof-shaped cover is also in square in shape. Similarly, the Jangmyeongdeung of Jeongneung contains Buddhist elements as well. The three-bead pattern that decorates the Ganjuseok stand is an example. The three-bead pattern is one of the symbolic elements related to Tantric Buddhism. It is found on the diadems worn by Bodhisattvas from the Goryeo and early Joseon periods. The Jangmyeongdeung of Jeongneung in early Joseon directly influenced the production of the square-shaped stone lanterns used to decorate the tombs during the Joseon period. After the latter half of the 15th century, however, the octagonal-shaped Jangmyeongdeung style began to prevail. The Jangmyeongdeung of Jeongneung reflects the succession of the tradition of royal tombs from Goryeo to Joseon, the introduction of square-shaped stone lanterns to Buddhist temples, and the influence of the Buddhist philosophy of the time. It is a living testimony to various elements of each time and corresponding cultural trends.