• Journal of architectural history
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.7-18
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• 2023

Recognizing that the debate on the original form of the Seokguram Grotto is closely related to the mythologization of the Seokguram Grotto, which is far from factual understanding, this paper is prepared to restore the Seokguram Grotto based on scientific facts. To this end, we will first analyze its active meaning and fiction from three directions: the founding legend, the rediscovery story, and the concept and discourse of the Line of sight for Buddha statue (對佛像視準線), which have contributed to the mythologization of the Seokguram Grotto. The original restoration of the Seokguram Grotto should be based on a scientific understanding of the Seokguram space. However, past debates and restoration attempts have been based on imagination and not on scientific knowledge. Therefore, Chapter 3 attempts a scientific analysis of the light environment of thr Seokguram Grotto and critically examines the existing errors and realistic mythological images to correct the public's spatial perception of Seokguram's architecture and to propose a rational restoration of Seokguram's architectural space.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.131-137
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• 1999

It is very important that we try to keep our traditional historical assets in the original form for a long time. Artificial grotto has a very long and old history of about 1250 years in Korea. Yet, for the past several years there are many factors ruinning this historical treasure. Recently, specialist are new scientifically examining artificial grotto and evaluating its current condition. If you only judge these historical assets from the exterior structural environmental approach your scientific conclusion will not be complete. No one has studied artificial grotto from the viewpoint of indoor climate environmental. Therefore, I have surveyed and prepared a report of investigation as well as countermeasure so to understand the impact of indoor climate environmental on artificial grotto. The purpose of this paper is to first survey the existing research data based on exterior structural environment. Secondly, closely evaluate the new data of artificial grotto from the viewpoint of indoor environmental control by a natural climate phenomenon in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.23-31
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• 1991

In this paper, based on the thought of the place, I tried to define the meaning of th place and interprete its landscape. The landscape of the mt. Toham with its Grotto-temple "Sokgulam" is the major object of it. The "matter and form" of the Sokgulam realizes the archetypal meaning of the grotto, birth or place of the birth, in a concrete picture. The aesthetics of the Sokgulam, the mater and form in the work of arts, comes out light harmonious with the elements: "grotto", the new foreign element of the architectural style and "orientation", the old domestic one of the Shilla that presented itself at the Chomsongdae, a kind of observatory. The interrelation of the old and new elements in work of the Sokgulam shows us also a thought as an opinion of the transference to say: the matter of the traditional subject, "grotto" and the form makes the abstract matter concretely in sight, by receiving the natural happening of the sunrise at the winter solstice.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.21-37
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• 2020

The purpose of this paper is to reconstruct the original floor plan and wall design of Seokbulsa Grotto in Kyungju; commonly known as 'Seokguram'. The paper presents an array of dimensional studies of the existing Seokguram to examine its architectural form, and infers the original floor plan and wall design of Seokbulsa Grotto. Seokbulsa Grotto is designed as a system of 'coherent modules' and was constructed using the dry stone method, which interlocks large stone modules into a whole that becomes the load-bearing structure itself. The design principles governing Seokbulsa Grotto are the spatial axis of symmetry, modular coordination, and the layout grid of a quarter Tang-Ruler(TR: 唐尺). Dimensional studies were conducted with these governing principles in mind and concludes the following about the original floor plan design. In the main chamber, Ansang-stone's radius is 12 TR, and Flagstone's radius is 12¼ TR. In the front chamber, the width between the two Ansang-stones facing each other is 22 TR and the longitudinal space depth is 12 TR, while the width between the two Flagstones facing each other is 22½ TR and Flagstone's depth is 12 TR. In the passageway, the width between the two Ansang-stones facing each other is 11½ TR and longitudinal space depth is 9 TR, while the width between the two Flagstones facing each other is 12 TR and Flagstone's depth is 7¾ TR. The distance from the center to the entrance line of the main chamber is 10½ TR. Therefore, the total longitudinal length of the Grotto is 43½ TR at the level of the Ansang-stones, and 44 TR at the level of the Flagstones.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.24
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• pp.169-184
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• 2003

Yearly mean temperature and relative-humidity of the Seokguram Grotto was measured $19~23^{\circ}C$, 40~44% from May, 1998 to December,2002. The measurement has little differences comparing to the optimum guideline (temperature : $20^{\circ}\pm2^{\circ}C$, relative-humidity : $50^{\circ}\pm5%$). It is necessary to increase humidity in the Seokguram Grotto during winter because of heating and decrease the temperature during summer because of a higher temperature of outside. In addition, the diurnal range keep in $4^{\circ}C$ of temperature and in 10% of relative-humidity. Yearly mean concentration of $CO_2$(carbon dioxide) was measured538~658ppm that is higher than concentration of normal atmosphere(360 ppm). The $CO_2$ has an cumulative effect on the surface of stone cultural properties as a form of carbonic acid($H_2CO_3$) after reaction with water. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system should be operated to maintain ideal state for the preservation according to the optimum guideline. Also, the entrance into the Seokguram Grotto should be controlled to prevent a sudden fluctuation of humidity and temperature. Human could carry small particles like a microdust, microbe, etc., into the Seokguram Grotto and also could damage the surface by a direct touch.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.41-52
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• 2021

This study examines the Gyeongju Seokguram Grotto restoration project (1961-1962) by architect Kim Chung Up (1922-1988) and introduces the documents he wrote at the time of planning. The study highlights Kim's Plan attempt to adopt Buckminster Fuller's idea of the Geodesic Dome, while inheriting the architect Pai Ki Hyung's previous design plan which was nullified. As Seokguram Grotto's water leak and deterioration issues have been brought up, the four-times survey was carried out by experts team between 1958 and 1960, under Ministry of Education's direction. Pai designed an initial restoration plan based on the survey's result, which was a double-dome structure with a concrete film on the outer periphery as a way to protect Seokguram Grotto in January 1961. However, as drawbacks, such as the heavy load of the concrete dome, and non-installation of entrance hall, have been indicated in the review process, the Cultural Properties Committee rejected the plan. Subsequently, Kim was appointed as the supervisor of the second restoration project. Kim drew up a process management schedule to be implemented from August 1961 to December 1963 and designed the conception plans for the second restoration design. This study analyzes Kim's Plan by examining sketches, site plans, floor plans, and sections. Kim planned to maintain the idea of the double-dome structure proposed by Pai while applying Buckminster Fuller's idea of the Geodesic Dome. Kim planned to lighten the dome structure by applying a steel-frame Geodesic Dome so that the dome structure could be supported by its own. The study is expected to reclaim the omitted parts from Seokguram Grotto's historical description and Kim's careers.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.41-49
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• 2015

In spite of the registration on the world heritage in UNESCO the principal statue of Sakyamuni in Seokguram Grotto is considered that its worth doesn't reach to its fame. The exact name of the statue does not establish yet and the statue has insufficient of storytelling or narrative structure on it. Regarding these issues the statue need to enhance the real value of it. This study pursue reconsidering the status of the principal statue compare to general statue of the Buddha and searching for the originality and archetype as a Buddha in Seokguram Grotto. Descriptive method is adopted as a approach to this theme with preceding research analysis and reference research. As a result various alternatives are drew back as a countermeasure. One thing is a government leading system of research and development the other is it need to increase the fame of Sakyamuni statue in Seokguram Grotto with a n interdisciplinary approach in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.33
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• pp.136-161
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• 2000

This paper is a study on the design of the gilt-bronze sarira caskets discovered in 1959 and 1996, from a east and a west three-story stone pagodas in Gameunsa Temple site which was built in 682. One of the most interesting discoveries is the ceiling with Bokdu(覆斗) design which can be seen in Dun-Huang grotto of China, reflected upon the ceiling structure of the cover (outer casket) and the square box (inner casket). The structure of these sarira caskets, as art crafts, directly represents architectural structure of Dun-Huang grotto that was made during the early T'ang period of China. Moreover, the sarira caskets are decorated with ornate designs and these designs also can be seen on the murals of Dun-Huang grotto. Accordingly, those sarira caskets tell us creative ability and international taste of Silla's craftsmen. By tracing the origin of structure and design pattern of the sarira caskets to Central Asian and Chinese architectures, it is able to understand international style of the sarira caskets of Gameunsa Temple site.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.588-597
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• 1999

Sokkuram grotto, a UNESCO cultural heritage in Kyongju Korea, was originally covered with crushed rocks over its dome with ventilating holes. The grotto was perfectly preserved for more than 12 centuries until the upper structure was replaced with a concrete dome in the early 20th century to protect from total collapse. Since then, heavy dew formed on the granite surface to seriously damage the sculptures until it was further remodeled with air-conditioning facilities in the 60s. It is considered that the original upper porous structure had a dehumidifying capability. This research is made to unveil the dehumidifying mechanism of the rock layer during the rainy season in that area. A rock layer and a concrete layer are tested in a temperature/humidity-controlled room. No dew formation is observed for the two specimen for continued sunny days or continued rainy days. However, heavy dew formed on the concrete surface for a sunny day after long rainy days. It is thought that the sun evaporates water on the ground and dew is formed at the surface as the highly humid air touches the yet cold concrete. On the contrary, no dew formation is observed for the rock layer at any time. Even in the above worst situation, air flows downward through the cool rock layer and moisture is removed before reaching inside. Temperature measurement, flow visualization, observation of dew formation and measurement of air velocity are made to verify the mechanisms.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.440-452
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• 2005

The granites in the Gyeongju area are represented by the Namsan granites and the Tohamsan granodiorites. In this study I examined the geomorphological and geological characteristics of the granite landforms in the Gyeongju area. Joint, tor and corestones are most identifiable geomorphological and geological structure in the study areas. Tor in the Namsan granites is well developed and mainly composed of cubic corestones. Petrographical features of the stones used for the stone-built cultural properties are compared with those of the granites cropped out nearby. Additionally radiogenic element contents (K, Th, U) were acquired for comparison by gamma-ray spectrometer analysis. Most stones from the stone-built cultural properties in the Bulguksa Temple are very similar to the Namsan granites in terms of petrography, radiogenic elements. On the contrary almost all stones from the Seokguram Grotto share common petrographical, physical and chemical characteristics with the Tohamsan granodiorites. Therefore it can be suggested that the stones in the Bulguksa Temple were supplied from Namsan, and that the stones in the Seokgurarn Grotto were collected at nearby Tohamsan.