• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.108-119
• /
• 2018

"The Collection of Yi Chungmugong" manuscript is a hand-written manuscript of the volume 1 consisting of the Collection, published in 1795 and it seems to have completed the contents of the book by correcting the first part of the book before print. The book adopted a form of Seonjangbon(線裝本) of Ochimanjeongbeop(五針眼訂法) and was urgently needed some measures to preserve because it has been much damaged by stains, loss and oxidation due to moisture on the bottom of it. In addition, a scientific investigation was applied to find out the features of the quality of paper and fiber used for the book, which would be reflected in the process of the preservation. The characteristics of paper were measurmented for size(cm), thickness(mm), weight(g), basis weight($g/m^2$), density($g/cm^3$), chain line and laid lines($3{\times}3cm$). The measurement showed that the characteristics of paper used in royal books published in the late Joseon Dynasty. For the paper-fiber of the book, C stain was used and the technique revealed that the book is made of bast fibre of paper mulberry and its binding strings are cotton. SEM-EDS analysis was performed to verify the existence of additives in paper. As a result of the analysis, The crystallized calcium was detected in addition to the main components carbon(C) and oxygen(O). This artifact is the unique final version of "The collection of Yi Chungmugong", which has considerable value in terms of academic research, besides it helps to understand how to print books of Joseon Dynasty. And it also has a very accurate information of when and where the book was made, which primarily could be resources to conserve and restore for other book heritage.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.210-223
• /
• 2014

When sarira reliquary was found in stone pagoda of Mireuksa Temple, there were 494 gold artifacts, including inner gold pot, gold plate with inscription for Sarira enshrinement, etc. Most of gold artifacts were crafted, but there were 22 gold plates and 4 gold ingots, which did not have any specific shape. It was considered that they had not been crafted. Since gold exists as a metal rather than a metallic oxide in nature, in general, it can be crafted by melting and shaping. However, gold in nature has impurities so it has to be refined to have malleability. The characteristic features were identified through the analysis of gold artifacts from sarira reliquary found in stone pagoda of Mireuksa Temple. The analysis result showed that there were 3 types of gold; pure gold artifacts, artifacts produced with silver containing gold and natural gold ingots. Inner gold pot, gold earrings and gold small beads were produced with pure gold and they contained less than 1wt.% of copper. It seemed like they were produced as pure gold to be shaped by hammering. Gold plate with inscription, tweezers, gold earrings, ingots, etc. were produced with silver containing gold as they had to be more solid. Gold ingots seemed to be natural gold considering the distribution of silver and copper in them, but it cannot be concluded as there are not enough information on gold ingots in Korea. The comprehensive research on gold ingots from various regions in Korea has to be carried out to confirm the above. Sarira Reliquary showed the very sophisticated gold craftsmanship. Gold ingots with the inscriptions, which say 1 nyang, were approximately 14g. Considering the weight of these ingots as standard, weights of other ingots were half nyang(7g), 2 nyang(28g), etc.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.4-21
• /
• 2021

A stone mold from the Sabi period of Baekje was excavated at the western tombs in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo where there was a recent excavation survey (2016). It was believed and reported that such stone molds were used for copper needles during the early Iron Age; however, a close re-examination of the form revealed that they were used for bifid ornamental hairpins. Given its casting form, the stone mold of Neungsan-ri is estimated to have been used to make bifid ornamental hairpins in a ∩ shape, narrowing down toward the tip. It is considered an artifact of the Goryeo dynasty. The stone used to make the bifid ornamental hairpin mold of Neungsan-ri was chlorite-schist, the principal minerals of which include chlorite, amphibole, and talc. Similar rocks are in nearby Buyeo (Oesan-myeon), Cheongyang, Gongju, and Yesan. They are mainly found between Jiseon-ri, Oesan-myeon, Buyeo, Sucheol-ri, Yesane-up, and Yesan. Nearly 70 bifid ornamental hairpins from the Goryeo dynasty were excavated at Neungsan-ri, Buyeo and the surrounding areas. Among them, the bronze ones excavated from the tombs of Songguk-ri, Buyeo are estimated to have been made using this mold as they closely resemble the Neungsan-ri mold. Stone was likely the preferred material for molds to make bronze artifacts as it was easy to sink a die. Regarding the bifid ornamental hairpin cast excavated in Neungsan-ri, they obtained stones in nearby areas 20~50km from their location, made bronze artifacts, and distributed them to nearby sites during the Goryeo dynasty. These artifacts suggest that the casting technology of using a stone mold was still employed then.