Sungkyunkwan University Museum will host a special exhibit from Sept 19 to Dec 19 displaying old glass negatives of Gyeongju’s historic sites. Of particular note are negatives taken during the 1913 restoration of the Seokguram Grotto and the 1925 repair of the Dapotap Pagoda.
Should be pretty interesting.
4 Comments
Yeah this is great, I gotta go see — it’s stunning to have photos from way back then!
I thought I read or heard somewhere that Seokguram was rediscovered during the Japanese period but kept secret, lest officials do something to it. Evidently, that’s a myth, if the first restoration project began in 1913.
I think I’ve only been there two or possibly three times, but you can’t get tired of it. It’d be great to see it with the shutters opened up and the sunlight reflecting off the jewel in his forehead.
Having the chance to sing a bad rendition of 신라의 달밤 in a noraebang in downtown Gyeongju makes up for it, though.
The Chosun Ilbo also reports that the restoration from the 1960s was not accurate, based upon photographic evidence.
When I first saw it, I did not like the site presentation either since it looked grubby and unaesthetic in design. Apparently someone was still using it for services as well!
> I thought I read or heard somewhere that
> Seokguram was rediscovered during the Japanese
> period but kept secret, lest officials do something
> to it. Evidently, that’s a myth
Yup, total myth — it was a Japanese Postal Service worker who discovered it in 1911 or so! After it was essentially lost in the alpine forest for 1000 years… Gawd, what a thing to find!