TY - JOUR
AU - Choi Gongho
AB - The gulpijari (oak rug) at Magoksa Temple―deftly woven out of delicate strips of black oak heartwood―is an unusual object found nowhere else in the Gongju area or even throughout the rest of the central and southern regions. Its origin can be traced back to the matting traditions of a distant village of lay monks in the mountains of North Hamgyeong province.The rug―which, at 110 square meters, spans the entirety of the Daegwangbojeon Hall floor―is a rare object that is at least 100 to 230 years old and yet remains well-preserved. Its massive proportions notwithstanding, its finely and evenly wrought state of near perfection bears testament to the scrupulous work of devout artisans. The tale connected to the crippled creator of the rug reinforces not only the status of the Daegwangbojeon Hall as a divine place of prayer under the auspices of the dharmakaya but also the religious symbolism of the work as a miraculous result of the artisan’s piety. At the same time, the rug constitutes an intriguing technical and cultural clue as to the relationship between Magoksa Temple and the matting traditions unique to the village of married lay monks in North Hamgyeong province that was home to the tradition of gulpijari. Furthermore, this historical relic provides a particularly significant glimpse into the intangible heritage of collaborative systems within temple communities and the handicrafts which they fostered.The worth of a cultural artifact of merit is not just ascribed to days bygone. The numerous components derived from said artifact go on to contribute to the holistic progress of human culture even after they have helped us to piece together the past of a specific group of individuals. In this regard, thanks to its singular historical value, the Daegwangbojeon Hall gulpijari carries great importance both as a tangible cultural artifact and as an intangible cultural artifact capable of restoring the layers of long-lost traditions.
BT - Journal of ART History
DO - 10.52799/JAH.2021.12.41.129
N2 - The gulpijari (oak rug) at Magoksa Temple―deftly woven out of delicate strips of black oak heartwood―is an unusual object found nowhere else in the Gongju area or even throughout the rest of the central and southern regions. Its origin can be traced back to the matting traditions of a distant village of lay monks in the mountains of North Hamgyeong province.The rug―which, at 110 square meters, spans the entirety of the Daegwangbojeon Hall floor―is a rare object that is at least 100 to 230 years old and yet remains well-preserved. Its massive proportions notwithstanding, its finely and evenly wrought state of near perfection bears testament to the scrupulous work of devout artisans. The tale connected to the crippled creator of the rug reinforces not only the status of the Daegwangbojeon Hall as a divine place of prayer under the auspices of the dharmakaya but also the religious symbolism of the work as a miraculous result of the artisan’s piety. At the same time, the rug constitutes an intriguing technical and cultural clue as to the relationship between Magoksa Temple and the matting traditions unique to the village of married lay monks in North Hamgyeong province that was home to the tradition of gulpijari. Furthermore, this historical relic provides a particularly significant glimpse into the intangible heritage of collaborative systems within temple communities and the handicrafts which they fostered.The worth of a cultural artifact of merit is not just ascribed to days bygone. The numerous components derived from said artifact go on to contribute to the holistic progress of human culture even after they have helped us to piece together the past of a specific group of individuals. In this regard, thanks to its singular historical value, the Daegwangbojeon Hall gulpijari carries great importance both as a tangible cultural artifact and as an intangible cultural artifact capable of restoring the layers of long-lost traditions.
PY - 2021
SP - 129
EP - 153
T2 - Journal of ART History
TI - The History and Cultural Value of the Magoksa Temple Gulpijari (Oak Rug)
VL - 41
SN - 1229-3326
ER -