Architectural Significance of the Seokguram Buddhist Grotto in Gyeongju (Korea)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to disclose the hidden architectural proportions and true nature of the Korean national treasure in Seokguram Grotto, Gyeongju. The authors compare its features with those of other ancient hypogeal or ashlar constructions with the intention of rediscovering its relevant configuration and latent structural properties in order to demonstrate its uniqueness. The methods employed in the research belong initially to architectural design and composition to advance in the later stages to the nuances of stone masonry, lighting effects and especially cohesive construction. In this discussion and thorough analysis diverse philosophical and scientific subtleties are brought to the surface. The results demonstrate significant potential thanks to recent architectural developments, such as Tadao Ando’s Buddha Hill in Hokkaido (2017) and the authors’ own proposal for a Buddhist monument.

Art and the City Fiction in Japanese American Internment Camps: Sequels for Resiliency

“…By creating art, people could maintain and express their cultural heritage and identity, allowing them to still retain a sense of community and self-identity during forced relocation and discrimination. In much the same way as religion has helped to instil objects and locations with sacred values, in the camps, an atmosphere of Buddhist sanctuaries and Asian shrines was recreated, including a dark, mysterious environment in which transcendence and mysticism manifested (Salguero-Andújar et al 2022), working as a positive and uplifting mechanism. Such art echoes the translation of images of far cities onto the canvas (Rodriguez- Cunill et al 2021) or the recovery of ancient cities under our feet in literary creations (Cunill 2021).…”