• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.19
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• pp.81-98
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• 2005

Nepal's role in the expansion of Mahayana Buddhism beyond the Himalaya is very significant. Nepal became the center of Mahayana Buddhism after the Muslim invasion of Nalanda Mahavihara in the 1199 A.D., which she maintained almost for 300 years. During this period, Nepal had produced a large number of profound Buddhist scholars. Most of them were the teachers of eminent Tibetan Buddhists. Some of the Nepalese Gurus also has continued lineage in Tibet until now. During that time, every Tibetan had desire to go to Nepal for higher Buddhist learning. As a matter of fact, many Tibetans made arduous journey across the Himalaya to fulfill the dream. Tibetan studied various forms of tantra, precepts, logic, doctrine, Sutra, Sadhana, Doha, Charyagiti, meditation etc. under direct supervision of Nepalese teachers. Great Tibetan scholars such as Marpa, Rwa Lo, Chag Lo, Khon phu ba, Klog Lo, Gos Lo, and others were the product of Nepal's scholarly tradition. They have significant place in the history of Tibet. Nepalese scholars also frequently visited Tibet where they taught Buddhism in various monasteries. They also had major role in propagating tantra in Tibet. Tibetans firmly believe that it is not possible to attain enlightenment without practicing tantra. The contribution of Nepalese scholars was so profound that Tibet produced many eminent scholars who developed scholastic tradition in Tibet. But after 14th century, Nepal's scholarly tradition ceased to continue. Then after, Tibetans started to call them 'the dull'.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.67-80
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• 2013

A widely shared view identifies civil society with the set of nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations. This tradition reflects a long history of social theory viewed in institutional terms. Myanmar society has developed, mainly based on Buddhist culture and tradition. Buddhist practice necessitates public validation within an economy of merit in which moral action earns future rewards. Myanmar private voluntary associations have, since ancient times, played a vital role in achieving social purposes. Buddhist monasteries were the main education institutions in Myanmar. Until today, monastic schools, or monastic education centers as they are often called, have been the most important civil-society institutions bridging the accessibility gap in the state-run education system in government-controlled areas. Apart from social or community based that serve for public health in Myanmar there has been a number of religious organizations serving for the same. Moreover there appeared an association to very differently help those who need much urgent help. Since military coup in 1962, however, successive regimes have sought to stamp out civil society and permit only state-controlled organizations. Civil society re-emerged during the nation-wide pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988. After 1988 civil societies are allowed as like a political party to form. Now a day some civil societies have worked to start small-scale projects addressing local problems, but they must stay clear of politics.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.157-186
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• 2015

Sittaung-Thanlwin region in Lower Myanmar is an ecological niche for human settlement. Evidences of human activities in the region are seen through various archaeological sites or settlements along the coastal area between the rivers Sittaung and Thanlwin (Salween). In Lower Myanmar, scholar, U Aung Myint, discovered one major site Kyaikkatha and other small scale sites, namely, Sittaung, Kawhtin, Kadaikgyi, Kadaikkalay, Katkadit, Kelatha (little Zothoke), Ayetthama, Winka, Zothoke (big Zothoke), Lagonbyi (Sampannago), Wagaru, Laming and Ye in present day Mon State. In 1980, U Aung Myint undertook an exploration program at Kyaikkatha. After the exploration, an excavation team conducted systematic digging at Kyaikkatha in March 1986. Excavation continued occasionally at Kyaikkatha throughout the years between 1995 and 2000. It is known that Kyaikkatha, the old city, reveals a kind of monumental civilization exposing four religious structures (a stupa and three monasteries). This essay looks into the distribution of features within Kyaikkatha and infers on its social, political, and religious organization. This essay is also about a new discovery of an early urban settlement located at the apex of the Gulf of Muttama (Martaban) where a lost city of Suvannahumi flourished in the ancient days. By means of aerial photographic observations, the site had been noticed recently, which was by followed some excavations. More systematic and detail surveying may be needed to know more about the site and its features for comparison to other similar settlements of through-out mainland South East Asia.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.265-280
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• 2022

Hwangnyongsa Temple was the large Buddhist monastery of Silla that has existed for about 685 years. The temple underwent a series of excavations from 1976 to 1983, during which it was discovered that its layout consisted of one pagoda and three main dharma halls. This discovery also led to the production of four artistic depictions of the temple at various times from its foundation to its final phase. Previous studies on the architectural layout of Hwangnyongsa Temple are largely focused on the inner sanctuary ("Buddha's Land"). The studies on the temple's main architectural structures may be natural for those who are interested in the origins of and background to its establishment, but the studies on its outer sanctuary ("Sangha's Land") have to come first to acquire a deeper knowledge of the architectural layout of the temple as a whole. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire layout of Buddhist monasteries of the Silla dynasty, including both their inner and outer sanctuaries, the studies on Hwangnyongsa Temple are essential as it was once the kingdom's most highly honored temple. The studies on Korean Buddhist monasteries of the Three Kingdoms Period have produced only a limited amount of information concerning the outer sanctuary, resulting in little evidence about the exact scope of the temple's sanctuary. Meanwhile, the excavations of the Hwangnyongsa Temple site have revealed the archaeological features of the walls that divided the monastery and its neighboring facilities, thus helping to delineate the size of the temple site. The excavations have revealed the boundaries between the inner and outer sanctuaries of Hwangnyongsa Temple, as well as the entire temple precincts and the exterior, providing valuable information about the changes made to the layout of the temple. In this study, the main discussion focuses on the changes made to the sanctuary of Hwangnyongsa Temple during the Unified Silla and Goryeo Periods, particularly in relation to the architectural layout of the temple. The discussion is based on a review of the periods in which the Nammunji(South Gate site) was built, which provides tangible evidence about the expansion of the temple to the south, and the walls enclosing the temple precincts on the four sides and the changes that occurred afterwards. As a result, the study concludes that both the inner and outer sanctuaries of the temple probably changed through the 1 st and 3rd. It also concludes that the changes made to the architectural layout of Hwangnyongsa Temple were intended not only to alter the scope of the temple but were also closely associated with the politico-geographical significance of its location at the center of the royal capital of Silla and the urban archaeological remains around it.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.60-70
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• 2017

This study traces the development of physic gardens in Korea and explores their significance in the history of landscape architecture. For this purpose, records related to physic gardens from medical sources from the period of the Three States to the Joseon dynasty, when herbal medicine was systematized as a field, were searched. Physic gardens had been developed by the time of the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties, in the 13th and the 15th centuries. Yakpo(kitchen gardens for medicinal herbs) were cultivated by a group of new high-level officials in the late Goryeo dynasty, when an increasing interest in hyangyak(native herbs) emerged under the influence of the Neo-Confucian perspective on nature, which emphasized locality. The sources analyzed in this study confirm that physic gardens called jong-yakjeon(royal medicinal herb gardens) were in operation in the early Joseon dynasty when policies to investigate, discover, cultivate, and research native herbs were put into place. It is likely that the jong-yakjeon were established at the beginning of the Joseon dynasty as subsidiary facilities under its central medical institutions, the Naeuiwon and Hyeminseo, and then declined in the late Joseon dynasty. Jong-yakjeon can be confirmed to have existed in the mid-15th century. Physic gardens were located in several places outside the Fortress Wall of Hanyang, such as Yakhyeon, Yuldo, Yeoudo, and Saari. The total area encompassed by physic gardens was about 160,000 square meters in the early 18th century. In jong-yakjeon, dozens of medicinal herbs were cultivated, including Schizonepeta tenuifolia var. japonica, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, and these gardens were operated by physicians dispatched from the Naeuiwon and dozens of provincial slaves. In conclusion, the jong-yakjeon were similar to the physic gardens of Renaissance medical universities in that they reflected the interest in and development of theories about new herbs, and were similar to the physic gardens of medieval castles and monasteries in terms of species types, location, and function. This paper has limitations in that it does not present the specific spatial forms of the yakpo or the jong-yakjeon. Nevertheless, this paper is significant for the field of garden history because it shows that physic gardens in Korea appeared in the late Goryeo and early Joseon dynasties concomitantly with the development of medicine towards native herbs and functioned as utilitarian gardens to cultivate community remedies.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.74-88
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• 2019

This study developed the Assessment Indicator evaluating eco-cultural value of temple forest in Korea and applied the developed Assessment Indicator to Songgwang-sa(also known as Seungbo-sachal), one of the Three Jewels Temple. Literature reviews and the draft of Assessment Indicator were drawn from brainstorming(including 2 forest therapy experts, 1 Buddhist monk expert, 1 landscape architect, 1 forest expert, and 6 researchers). After that, the Assessment Indicator drawn from the group of experts(the 1st in-depth interview: 32 people, the 2nd in-depth interview: 30 people) was verified and revised. The final Assessment Indicator, which was composed of 4 parts and 20 items, was developed. The results are as follows. The eco-cultural Assessment Indicator of temple forest was composed of 4 parts, which were Historical Cultural value, Ecological value, Recreatory Visitational value, and Educational Useful value, and 20 items and each item had 5 points. Historical Cultural value had 5 items and its total points were 25. Ecological value had 5 items and had total 25 points. Recreatory Visitational value had 6 items, 30 total points. Educational Useful value had 4 items, 20 total points. The total points of the eco-cultural Assessment Indicator were 100 points. As a result of applying the developed Assessment Indicator to the target place, Songgwang-sa in Mt. Jogye, Historical Cultural value of temple forest was calculated as 23 points(out of 25). Ecological value was 21 point(out of 25), Recreatory Visitational value, 22 points(out of 30), and Educational Useful value, 16 points(out of 20). The total points were 82(out of 100). Consequently, this study is meaningful based on the following 5 aspects. Firstly, this study challenged the development of the eco-cultural Assessment Indicator of temple forest for the first time. It is significant because the developed Assessment Indicator can be a useful resource for the eco-cultural value of temple forest. Secondly, the result showed that Educational Useful value and Recreatory Visitational value of forest temple were very low. Therefore, the supports for leisure, tour, education, and use of temple forest are needed from Korea Forest Service, Ministry of Environment, Cultural Heritage Administration and other government agencies since they acknowledge the temple forest as the best customers in Korea. Thirdly, the excellence or for eco-cultural value of temple forest needs to be extended in a national level. It is possible to make a Korean National Bran(e.g., the Therapy at the Temple) by blending temple stay, which is only in temples, and therapy, and is also possible to be a global tour industry. Fourthly, this study suggested legal definition about the necessary of legal definition for temple forest because there is no legal definition on temple forest in the current situation. When the definition of temple forest is legally arranaged, it would be a foundation for conserving eco-cultural value of temple forest, for organizing exclusively responsible departments in governmental institutions, and further for registering temple forest as World Natural Heritage. Lastly, the developed eco-cultural Assessment Indicators of temple forest from this study would be applied to "the 7 Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea(Sansa)" and the characteristics of each 7 temple are drawn. This study would be a basic data for temples' management and use with the eco-cultural Assessment Indicator of temple forest.