A diagnostic investigation of the conservation state of damaged murals of the Payathonzu temple mainly indicated delamination, exfoliation, and contamination of the coloring layer; cracks and damage to the wall; and separation from gaps. In particular, vulnerabilities resulting from cracks in the wall and damage from gaps demand swift reinforcement measures. Ultrasonic testing uncovered damage caused by gaps between the base layer and plastered wall in several areas of the mural, vulnerable parts in the wall around the cracks, and considerable degradation of the physical properties where cracks and gaps were severe. Moisture measurements identified vast disparities in moisture depending on location even within a single area of the mural, and it was clear that these disparities were the result of environmental conditions such as humidity. Damage to the murals in monument 477 was the most severe, and a diagnostic of the physical properties uncovered severe physical damage to the upper part of the mural as well as to the corridor ceiling, thus presenting the need for conservation treatment utilizing scientific diagnosis as well as objective data.
In this study, a scientific analysis of the gold leaf layers and internal structure of the Clay Seated Vairocana Buddha Triad in Seonunsa Temple, Gochang (Treasure No. 1752) was conducted. The surface of the Buddha statues is a gold foil, and the gold leaf layer consists of four layers. The gold leaf layer first composed on the molding clay was produced in the order of lacquer-fabrics-lacquer-gold foil. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the work was performed three times in the same way. The composition of the Buddha statues was divided into the head, body or upper body, lower body, and pedestal. The body was made in a cylindrical form by connecting vertically oriented wooden materials, and the head and lower body were also connected to the body in an empty form. Thus, the head, body, and lower body are grafted structures that are connected to a single Bokjang-gong. It was confirmed that the Clay Seated Vairocana Buddha Triad in Seonunsa Temple was made using wood materials for the basic form, after which the detailed form was created with molding clay, and the surface was finished with a process of layering gold foil and substances presumed to be lacquer.
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