This thesis examines the front-room architecture of the Grottoes Mogauku in Dunhuang and Golgulam Grottoes in Gyeongju. Although there are differences in time and space, we looked at some of the restoration plans based on the excavation surveys and ma...
This thesis examines the front-room architecture of the Grottoes Mogauku in Dunhuang and Golgulam Grottoes in Gyeongju. Although there are differences in time and space, we looked at some of the restoration plans based on the excavation surveys and major examples of the Buddhist Caves with eaves in the front and with chambers in Dunhuang Grottoes Mogauku. Thus, this study attempted to present the possibility and problems of the restoration of all rooms in the Mogauku Temple, which may have been projected in front of Gyeongju Golgulam Grottoes.
To this end, first, various terms and examples of front chamber architecture among stone caves were investigated, and then the differences between the related terms were analyzed. In addition, this paper tried to trace the original form of the front chamber architecture that can grasp the reality to some extent through documents and photographs in different stages of the changing process of the front chamber architecture in Dunhuang Mogauku. Also, the state of the archaeological excavation remains of all chambers of Grottoes no. 72-77, including the restoration plan of Grottoes no. 53 and no. 55 suggested by the Chinese architectural historian Xiamo(蕭黙) and Wuxiao(吳筱) each, who argues to be representative examples of the restoration on the entire chambers of the Dunhuang Cave. They reviewed the principle and process of restoration of the all-chamber architecture of the Seokgul Mogauku. Based on this analysis, this research makes a restoration plan on the Golgulam Grottoes in consideration of the topographic features. In the case of the restoration plan, all chambers are not standardized structures. It is assumed to be a simple wooden structure entangled with a timber frame according to the terrain conditions. The restoration plan completed taking into consideration the example of Japanese Gakezukuri (懸造り) architecture, which is judged to be a similar structure.
There are various data expressed in excavations, literature records, and murals at the site. Nevertheless, the problem of restoration is still inevitable, and perfect restoration is practically impossible. Moreover, considering the religious activities inside and outside the cave, it is an even more difficult challenge. In fact, the case of the Dunhuang Grottoes Mogauku, where there are various front-chamber architectures, provides some clues that can be referred to, but this also faces many limitations in attempting a restoration. For the restoration of the Gyeongju Golgulam’s front-chamber architecture, the entire environment, which is currently damaged a lot, has to be traced to the original form through a scientific method and be carried out through detailed field investigations.
Next, setting the point of restoration is one of the important tasks. For the protection of Golgulam Grottoes, w should consider a way that believers and worshipers can effectively access the entire Golgulam Grottoes in place of the facilities built to protect only the central Buddha causing current inconsistency. A protection facility that can protect the entire ruins is rather suitable in this situation. Restoration can be done anytime with a variety of perspectives and imaginations, but it is necessary to take care to implement it on the archaeological remain.