Spring 2012 Vol. 5 No. 1 Spring 2012 Vol.Vol
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1 | 2 Spring 2012 Vol. 5 No. 1 Spring 2012 Vol. 5 No. 1 5 No. 1 Vol. Vol. ISSN 2005-0151 443 | 445 Quarterly Magazine of the Cultural Heritage Administration Spring 2012 Vol. 5 No. 1 Cover Blue symbolizes spring. The symbolism orig- inates from the traditional “five directional colors” based on the ancient Chinese thought Spring 2012 Vol. 5 No. 1 of wuxing, or ohaeng in Korean. The five col- ors were associated with seasons and other phenomena in nature, including the fate of humans. The cover design features “cheon- sang yeolcha bunya jido,” an old planisphere chart from Joseon Dynasty. For more stories about this, see p. 10. KOREAN HERITAGE is also available on the website (http://English.cha.go.kr) and smart devices. 2 | 3 CHA News Vignettes Korean Folk Customs Korea Earns Three More UNESCO Intangible Heritage Titles Women’s Sewing Tools Endeared as ‘Seven Friends’ The Cultural Heritage Administration has succeeded in placing three more Korean women during the Joseon dynasty, Korean cultural assets on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible especially those of the nobility, were largely Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The UNESCO decision came at the sixth session confined to the inner quarters of their homes, of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage, where the strict Confucian rule of gender held in Bali, Indonesia, on November 22-29, 2011. The three assets are tightrope separation demanded that women conduct walking (jultagi), the taekkyeon martial art, and the fine ramie (mosi) weaving their daily activities. Sewing was one of their from Hansan. Korea now has 14 items on the Representative List. important activities as women in those days made all the clothing for their family members Japan Returns Joseon Dynasty Royal Books as well as small items for everyday life. Japan has returned 1,200 volumes of 147 Joseon Dynasty royal books, which With much of the day spent alone with sewing equipment, a popular phrase were taken away by the colonial government in the early 20th century and kept emerged, “gyujung chiru,” meaning the “seven friends of women.” It personified at the Imperial Household Agency in Tokyo. The books returned on December 6, each of the sewing tools, that is, needles, thread, rulers, scissors, thimbles, and 2011, in accordance with an agreement between leaders of the two nations irons in two types, one small hand-held one heated in a brazier and the other at a summit held a year before, where five other volumes of three titles were larger in size with a charcoal pan at one end. Sewing carefully cut fabrics stitch- returned as a token of mutual consent. The Cultural Heritage Administration by-stitch with love and devotion, women produced clothes for each family conducted a ceremony at Jongmyo, the ancestral shrine of the Joseon Dynasty, member. on December 13, 2011, to announce the historic return of the royal books. Nowadays, few women sew, a loss resulting from widespread industrialization. Korean Heritage Contents Available for Smart Devices The “seven old friends” are used far less frequently in most homes. It doesn’t mean that the traditional sewing tools have been completely abandoned. They are The Cultural Heritage Administration is launching smartphones and tablet endeared as valuable items of traditional living heritage and the sewing skills of PCs applications for Korean Heritage in March 2012, to increase access to the nameless women of long-ago days are evolving into prized handicrafts. English-language quarterly. The apps will first be available to ISO system devices and then expand to those with an Android platform. The magazine contents will also be made downloadable using the QR code on its back. Korean Heritage is currently available in webzine and print formats. 4 | 5 Vol. 5 No. 1 Spring 2012 CONTENTS 06 Pilgrimage to Buddhist Temples 22 Photo Gallery Korean Buddhism and Symbolism of Temples Camellia Blossoms and the Blue Sea The Road from Yeosu to Odong Island 10 Special Report 30 Foreigner’s View ‘Cheonsang yeolcha bunya jido’ Planisphere Chart Culminates Ceramics from the Korean Pavilion Astronomical Science of Joseon of the 1900 Paris Exposition 14 Human Heritage 34 Korean Heritage in the World Admiral Yi Sun-sin Hwaseong Fortress and Namhan Mountain Fortress Immortal Hero with Invincible Leadership 40 Intangible Heritage 18 Modern Heritage One Stitch for Laughter, Another for Sighs Movies Obtain First Heritage Designation The Charming Art of Jogakbo Wrapping Cloths ‘The Wedding Day’ Named Modern Cultural Asset Pilgrimage to Buddhist Temples 6 | 7 Temples are the cradles for nurturing the living Buddhas. People who aspire Korean Buddhism and to attain the Buddhahood in this world are drawn to temples to practice painful Symbolism of Temples asceticism following in the footsteps of the historical Buddha. Text & Photos by the Cultural Heritage Administration A Brief Look Back at Korean Buddhism Editor’s Note: This new series introduces Korea’s traditional Buddhist temples Buddhism made its way into Korea in embodying the nation’s history and spiritual legacy. Koreans since ancient times A.D. 372, the second year of the reign 2 have proudly called their country the “geumsu gangsan,” meaning the “land of King Sosurim of the Goguryeo of embroidered rivers and mountains,” indicating the exquisite beauty of its Buddhist temples, many of them over 1. The entrance area Kingdom. The Chinese monk Sundo of Buseok Temple. natural scenery. The gentle mountains warmly welcome people and nestled in a thousand years old, have become Hwasang, from Former Qin, introduced 2. An aerial view of the wooded midslope or near the rocky summit of almost every mountain are treasure troves of brilliant Buddhist Buddhism to the northern Korean state Songgwang Temple. centuries-old Buddhist temples offering a peaceful retreat for human souls. culture. Korea’s first Buddhist temples while his visit as a diplomatic emissary. were Ibullansa and Chomunsa, both Baekje, another Korean kingdom to the founded in 375, the fifth year of King southwest, imported Buddhism 12 years Sosurim. In Silla, the thatched hut of the later, in 384, through the Indian monk first convert, named Morye, in Ilseon Malananta. It was far later, in 527, that County (present-day Seonsan, North Silla in the southeast adopted Buddhism Gyeongsang Province), where the early as the state religion after the martyrdom missionary Ado Hwasang hid, should of the native convert Yi Cha-don. have been the first de facto temple. But Buddhism inspired a cultural flowering officially, Heungnyunsa in Cheongyeong in all of these ancient Three Kingdoms Forest in Gyeongju, which was founded in Korea. Buddhism continued to as a result of Yi Cha-don’s martyrdom, flourish throughout the Goryeo Dynasty is recognized as the oldest Buddhist (918-1392), greatly contributing to temple. its highly refined aristocratic culture. Although persecuted by officials during Diverse Names of Temples the Confucian-oriented Joseon Dynasty In Korea, Buddhist temples generally (1392-1910), Buddhism received refer to the places where “monks protection from the royal family and practice and prayers are offered to most of the general population. various deities ensconced.” But these places came to be categorized into The long history of Buddhism as a various types and accorded different predominant religious faith among the names with the passage of time, Korean people is clearly reflected in including sa (寺, temple or monastery), the numerous Buddhist temples dotting am (庵, hermitage), jeongsa (精舍, virtually every mountain valley and practice hall), seonwon (禪院, meditation 1 scenic spot across the country. These institute), etc. Pilgrimage to Buddhist Temples 8 | 9 3. Songgwangsa The Chinese-originated suffix sa is most was home to 16 national preceptors often found in the names of Korean from the 12th-century mid-Goryeo period Buddhist temples. This character through the Joseon derived from the names of guesthouses Dynasty. for foreign emissaries during the ancient Han Dynasty. In later years the residences of monks likewise came to be named in recognition of their prestigious 3 6 7 position in society. Some of the monks who resided in these monasteries built founded by many temples in provincial Korea’s Three Jewel Temples National Treasure No. 52. 6. Tongdosa keeps the sarisa of the historical small residences called hermitages, am areas to spread Buddhism among Three major Korean temples represent Buddha. or amja, in the mountainside for more local residents toward the end of the each of the “three jewels”: Tongdosa Songgwangsa, in Suncheon, South 7. One of the Four Heavenly Kings, private spaces for practice away from Joseon period. In spite of their different symbolizes the Buddha; Haeinsa Jeolla Province, boasts an illustrious 5 guardians of Buddhist the large community. As time passed, names, all these are places commonly embodies the dharma; and Songgwangsa lineage of revered monks. The lineage temples. the secluded hermitages also functioned devoted to “propagating Buddhism by exemplifies the sangha. stretches back to the mid-Goryeo period, as small temples. disseminating the dharma.” when National Preceptor Bojo (1158- Tongdosa, a historic monastery in 1210), also known as Monk Jinul, The dictionary meaning of jeongsa is Three Jewels of Buddhism Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, formed the “samadhi and prajna society” “a place where an ascetic practitioner In Buddhism, the “three jewels” or keeps the sarira of Sakyamuni, the to reform the corrupt sangha and resides.” The meditation hall, or the “triple gem” (sambo) are the historical Buddha. This temple establish a tradition of disciplined and seonwon, is usually an annex to a three objects of veneration that are therefore has no image of the Buddha. pure-minded ascetic practice. Thereafter 4. Printing blocks of large monastery. For example, Haeinsa looked forward for guidance and taken The remains of the historical Buddha the temple was presided over by 16 the Tripitaka Koreana at Haein Temple.