• Title/Summary/Keyword: buddha statues

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Manufacturing Technique of Gulbulsaji Four Surface Buddha Statue - Mainly for Seomyeon Amita Three Buddha Statues - (굴불사지 사면석불 별조제작기법에 대한 고찰 - 서면 아미타삼존상을 중심으로 -)

  • Kim Jeong-hwa
    • KOMUNHWA
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    • no.62
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    • pp.59-85
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    • 2003
  • Unified Silla Era, when buddhist sculpture had its prevailing era, was an era of the most beautiful cultural art of Korean history of art. Especially in the era of King Gyeongdeok, it was era of combined Indian Gupta Culture and Chinese Tang Culture, and

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Identification of Fibers of Samsebul (Triple Buddha Statues) at Bonghwangsa in Andong (안동 봉황사 삼세불 제작에 사용된 섬유의 동정)

  • Cho, Kyoung-Sil;Baek, Young-Mee
    • Journal of Conservation Science
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.297-303
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    • 2012
  • Samsebul, the altar portrait behind the statue of Buddha in the main building of Bonghwang temple in Andong, has been designated as Tangible Cultural Property No. 406. These alter portraits have significance as the standard of the research of Samsebul in Joseon period. In this study, fibre of the ground textile is identified using microscopic examination, solubility test, ATR-FT-IR, SEM, XRD. Two samples from Yaksabul(A, B), one sample from Seokgabul(C), and one sample from Amitabul(D), which were collected during the conservation process, were prepared for this study. In previous record, above samples were documented as hemp. Due to severe deterioration and accumulated dust layers on these samples, it was hard to recognize them with naked eyes, but through this study, we could identify that all samples except one from Yaksabul(A) are silk.

Buddhist Sculptures from Seongbulsa Temple in Hwanghae-do Province as Seen through Gelatin Dry Plates and Archival Materials from the Collection of the National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관 소장 유리건판과 기록자료로 본 황해도 성불사(成佛寺)의 불교조각)

  • Heo Hyeonguk
    • Bangmulgwan gwa yeongu (The National Museum of Korea Journal)
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    • v.1
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    • pp.278-305
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    • 2024
  • Gelatin dry plate photographs dating to the Japanese colonial era and the official documents from the Japanese Government-General of Korea Museum in the collection of the National Museum of Korea are significant materials documenting cultural heritage in North Korea before it was severely damaged in 1950 during the Korean War. There has been an increase in recent years in studies of Buddhist sculptures in North Korea based on these photographs and documents. This paper presents some new comments on the Buddhist sculptures at Seongbulsa Temple in Hwangju, one of the most famous temples in Hwanghae-do Province, based on the related existing research outcomes. This paper aims to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the Buddhist sculptures at Seongbulsa Temple by chronicling its history based on historical records, examining its current status, and exploring in detail the production dates and backgrounds of the Buddhist sculptures featured on gelatin dry plates. Prior to Korea's liberation from Japan in 1945, Seongbulsa housed at least seven sculptural items: two Bodhisattva statues, four Buddha statues, and a triad. Two items are from the early Goryeo period, one is from the late Goryeo period, three are from the early Joseon period, and one is from the late Joseon period. Among them, two surviving items are noteworthy. One is the early Goryeo-era Stone Seated Bhaishajyaguru Buddha photographed in Eungjinjeon Hall at Seongbulsa Temple. A close examination of a schematic drawing of the sculpture's pedestal made at the time it was photographed reveals that its material accords with the materials used for the headless Stone Seated Bhaishajyaguru Buddha and pedestal currently found in the old Sangwonam Hermitage site in the Inner Geumgang Valley of Jeongbangsan Mountain. This accordance could mean that the statue is a new significant example of early Goryeo Buddhist sculpture in North Korea. The other notable sculpture is the Gilt-bronze Seated Amitabha Buddha Triad created in 1454 (the second year of the reign of King Danjong) and discovered in Geungnakjeon Hall at Seongbulsa. This statue is currently in the collection of the Sariwon History Museum in Hwanghae-do Province. It is an important example of a dated small gilt-bronze Buddhist statue from the early Joseon period found in North Korea. This paper is a case study of Buddhist sculptures in North Korea, focusing on Seongbulsa Temple. Further utilization of the National Museum of Korea's gelatin dry plates will contribute to developing the study of the history of Korean Buddhist sculpture.

The Types and Features of Formal Ritual Hats for Tibetan Buddhist Priests (티베트 승려가 착용하는 의례용 관모의 종류와 특성)

  • Kwon, Young-Suk;Lee, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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    • v.62 no.5
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    • pp.16-30
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    • 2012
  • This study examines the types and features of formal ritual hats for Tibetan Buddhist priests. Findings of the study are as follows. The types of formal hats that Tibetan Buddhist priests wear during religious rites or rituals include: u rgyan pad zhwa, pan zhwa, tshogs zhwa, rigs inga, zhwa nag, zhwa dmar and dwags zhwa. The reason why such formal ritual hats as listed above were developed is because the region had an alpine climate, and also because they were the symbolism of Buddhism, the most reverent priest, and reincarnated Buddha thoughts. They were an essential part of the culture of dressing Buddhist statues and offering utensils. Formal ritual hats' shapes originate from lotus. They are colored in red, yellow, indigo, green, white or black, that reflect the nationality and aesthetics of Tibetans. They are mainly made of woolen or silk fabrics. They are usually decorated with gold, git bronze or jewels and the patterns of the sun and the moon, vajra or clouds.

Species Identification and Tree-Ring Dating of the Lotus Pedestal of Amitabha Statue at Ssangbong-Temple in Hwasun, Korea (화순 쌍봉사 극락전 아미타불 연화좌대의 수종 및 연륜연대 분석)

  • Kim, Yo-Jung;Son, Byung-Hwa;Oh, Jung-Ae;Jo, Tae-Gun;Choi, Sun-Il;Park, Won-Kyu
    • Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.95-102
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    • 2012
  • The objective of this study was to conduct the species identification and tree-ring dating of Lotus Pedestal of the Amitabha Statue at Ssangbong-Temple in Hwasun. The six wood blocks used for the Lotus Pedestal were hard pines (Pinus spp.; diploxilon) except one piece which was ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.). The lotus leaves surrounding the pedestal body were also made of ginkgo. Tree-ring patterns of 3 blocks were synchronized and a 133 years chronology was made. The chronology was crossdated well with the master chronology of Japanese red pine in South Korea. It dated back to A. D. 1551~1683, i.e. the last ring dated A. D. 1683. Through the estimation of the number of sapwood rings removed during carving, the felling year was calculated A. D. $1704{\pm}10$. The calligraphic writing on the Pedestal indicated that this statue was made in A. D. 1694. Therefore, the accuracy of the tree-ring dating has been proven.

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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.

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.

Museum Politics: A Study of Orientalism as Represented in the National Museum of Indonesia (박물관의 정치학: 인도네시아 국립박물관에 표상된 오리엔탈리즘 연구)

  • Song, Seung-Won
    • The Southeast Asian review
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.137-184
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    • 2011
  • This article is aimed at understanding the political narratives represented in the National Museum of Indonesia. Starting initially as a colonial museum, the National Museum of Indonesia functioned as a useful tool for the Dutch colonial force to fuel its imaginations of the colonial territory and the people within it. The Dutch used the cultural display to advertize its benevolent colonial rule. All the while, the museum also inevitably reflected orientalism on the people and the culture of the colony. The republic of Indonesia inherited the colonial museum's practices and its display patterns. The business surrounding the museum also played a key role in the newly-born nation-state laying out a future for its redefined territory and people. Thus, what the colonial force imagined for the colonial territory through the study of museum displays was rather directly transferred to the republic without serious consideration of the decolonization process. Four main characteristics have been seen in the museum displays. The first is an emphasis on the glorious Hindu-Buddha history, from which numerous temples, statues, and jewelry have been found. Secondly, the Islamic period, which spanned between the Hindu-Buddha times to the colonial era, has almost completely been eliminated from the display. Third, the colonial era has been depicted as the time of Europe's exportation of scientific tools and adaption of sophisticated living patterns. Fourth, the images of ethnic groups were represented as being stagnant without reflecting any challenges and responses that these groups had faced throughout history. Looking at these display patterns, it can be concluded that all the dynamic internal developments and anti-colonial resistance that took place during the Islamic and Colonial Era have simply not been represented in the museum display. These display patterns do not reflect the real history or culture of the archipelago. Two considerations are thought to have influenced the neglecting of social realities in the display. The first of which is the Dutch's and Republic's apprehension over the possible political upheaval by the Islamic forces. Yet, more fundamentally, cultural displays themselves are distinct from historical education in that the former pays more attention to business ideas with an aim to attract tourists rather than to project objective historical knowledge. Thus, in cultural displays, objects which work to stimulate fantasies and spur curiosity on archipelagic culture tend to be selected and emphasized. In this process, historical objectivity is sometimes considered less vital. Cultural displays are set up to create more appealing narratives for viewers. Therefore, if a narrative loses its luster, it will be replaced by another flashy and newly-resurrected memory. This fact reveals that museums, as transmitters of historical knowledge, have a certain degree of limitation in playing their role.

Analysis Corrosion Products Formed on the Great Buddha Image of Kotokuin Temple in Kamakura (고덕원 국보 동조아미타여래좌상의 표면에 생성한 부식생성물의 해석)

  • Matsuda Shiro;Aoki Shigeo;Kang, Dai-il
    • 보존과학연구
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    • s.17
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    • pp.161-182
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    • 1996
  • In natural atmosphere, copper and copper alloy have been used to make buddha statues and ornaments of historic buildings since the abovementioned metals have corrosion resistance in some extent, and the patinaformed on the surface of the metals has provided the people aesthetic satisfaction with its beauty. But in atmosphere polluted by $SO_x$and $NO_x$, the patina layer does not work as a protective film, and it allows damages of the metal. Since 1992, Tokyo National Research Institute of Cultural Properties(TNRICP)has conducted studies on the influence of atmospheric pollution on metal cultural property held under open air. The Great Buddha Image which is located in Kamakura about 50km west from Tokyo, has been selected as one of the objects to study because it is made by copper alloy and it has stood exposed in the air for about a few hundreds years. Furthermore it is also the reason to study on it that there are many cultural properties in the surroundings of it. We have analysed the components and the structure of the corrosion products formed on the surface of the Buddha, have carried out exposure tests using the alloy samples which have simulated the components of the Great Image, and have observed climated and polluted air in order to discuss the relation between corrosion of metals in open air and conditions of the atmosphere. In this paper, the authors have described the components and the structure of the corrosion product formed on the surface of the Great Image by means of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The conclusions are as follows. (1) Sulfate patina composed mainly with brochantite were detected on the all sides of the Image and the amount of the patina is found more on the back of the Image facing to north. (2) Antlerite were detected on the back and a park of the left side facing to west, and formation of it was considered to have close relation with malignant atmosphere. (3) A big amount of chloride patina which mainly composed of atacamite were observed on the front facing to south. (4) Carbonate patina mainly composed of malachite were detected on the area where brochantite was often detected as well. It suggested that malachite had been transformed into brochantite by deteriorated atmosphere. (5) On the all sides of the Image, patina were observed together with copper oxides mainly composed of cuprous oxide. It showed that the surface layer of the Image consists of two layers : inner layer of oxide and outer layer of patina. (6) Corrosion products of lead which was a component of copperalloy were detected on the all sides : the main lead product found on the front was chlorophosphate whereas the one on the back was sulfate.

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The Interpreggtation of the Indian Stupa as Origin of Korean Pagoda (탑의 원조 인도 스투파의 형태 해석 - 인도 전역의 현장 답사를 바탕으로 -)

  • Lee, Hee-Bong
    • Journal of architectural history
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    • v.18 no.6
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    • pp.103-126
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    • 2009
  • This study aims to discover historical trends and change of form of all stupas in India with observation of field study that is as direct as possible, by classifying, analyzing, and synthesizing the stupas. Study of Indian stupa in Korea has a number of shortcomings since only introductory partial approach has been made in order to seek the origin of Korean pagoda. This study also aims to correct errors of stupa terminology in Chinese character committed by misinterpretation of Hindi language which was established by precedent Japanese scholars several decades ago. Piled-up stupas were totally destroyed by pagans, therefore their remains tell us only of structure, material, sizeand disposition. However remains of carved stone at torana and drum give us clues as to the original form of stupa and worshipping activity, as well as change to a more luxurious form. Many rock cave stupas of India show us both simple forms matching the ascetic age of early Buddhism and luxurious changes in Mahayanan era introducing us to statues of Buddha. Indians recovered the spheric form of 'anda,' a Hindi term meaning cosmic egg, from the hemispheric form of the piled-up stupa. Therefore we might discard the erratic term of 'bokbal', which means an upset vessel. Railings and parasols became main factors of stupa design. Carved railings around stupa became a sign of divinity. Serious worshipping activity made drums long or high and created multi-embossed stripes. Bases of circular drums of some cave stupas changed their shapes to rectangular or octagonal. Single parasols became multiparasols of affluent flowerlike curved stems on carved stupa. Multistoried, elongated and high parasols of Gandhara stupas are closely related to such factors as diverse changes of form in Indian subcontinent. Four-sided torana gate and ayaka column of the circular form of original stupas suggest the rectangular form of subsequent East Asian pagoda, and higher and wider base of Indian stupas became the origin of East Asian rectangular pagoda.

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