경주첨성대의 파손과 잘못된 복구

Abstract

Cheomseongdae, Korea's so-called "star-gazing tower" located in the former Silla Dynasty capital of Gyeongju, is generally believed to have maintained its original shape since its construction in 647. The stone structure was closely examined and measured by Gyeongju National Museum in 1962 and reexamined by Korean National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in 2009.@This research noted the following structural anomalies of Cheomseongdae. A corner of the top rectangle layer was broken diagonally in a form that can never be attributed to a natural cause. The four metal clamps under the top rectangle layer had been missing. Four grooves, with unknown usage, exist on the sides of the long rectangular stones projected out of the circular body at the second and third circular layers from the top. On the second circular layer from the top, there are three flat stones, less than a half as tall as their surrounding stones. The average height of the third circular layer from the top is only 23.5 cm, while the overall average of the entire 27 circular layers is 29.9cm.@This research postulates that all these anomalies are due to prior destructions and improper restorations of the structure. The first destruction and restoration of Cheomsengdae was likely to have occurred before the mid 15th century. The damages might include a pavilion on the top of the structure and a stone with the name of the structure carved in. The Mongolian invasion in the 13th century was a most likely cause. After the restoration, the structure suffered at least another attack. The damages on the top layer and the missing iron clamps were due to the later attack. The grooves and flat stones were to house holding device that affixed certain objects to the outer surface of the circular body. The metal or stone objects might have faced upward at the four corners of Chemseongdae, bridging the gaps between the rectangle layers and circular layers. The current Chemseongdae lost at least the four affixed objects, four holding devices, and one flat stone.