The place where buried the placenta, Taesil (Placenta chamber)

http://buyeo.museum.go.kr

Introduction

Buyeo National Museum has a long history. It dates back 70 years before when the foundation of preservation for the ancient relic of Buyeo was established to protect various Buyeo relics and artifacts of Baekje culture. Thereafter, with this organization's central role Baekje cultural assets were gathered one by one and started having exhibition for public at a local government accommodation space of Joseon Dynasty which is situated at the south of Mt. Busosan. This could be the beginning of Buyeo Naitonal Museum. From 1939 the name " Buyeo museum " was at last given as it had become a branch of museum of colonial government of Joseon, and later the name was changed again as " Buyeo branch of national museum " when the country was liberated. As the public interest in Baekje culture and history increased and to renew exhibition and preservation for historical assets a new museum was built in 1970 at the southern foot of Mt. Busosan to display mainly Baekje cultural assets, which were scattered around Baekje areas. However, with time passing by, artifacts for exhibition were gathered more and more and lack of proper facility for social education the museum could not play its role the necessity for new museum came forward.
Later Buyeo national museum was moved to the foot of Mt. Geumseongsan on Aug. 6, 1993 and opened as new. The new museum covers 65,000㎡ where there are four exhibition halls and an outdoor display space for thousand artifacts as well as modern facilities for social education. In future, the Buyeo national museum would act as the center to study and preserve all cultural assets in Baekje area, become friendlier museum to citizens and contribute to the cultural development for this area. The Buyeo national museum Is making lots of efforts to preserve and supervise the cultural relics and artifacts in and around the areas of Buyeo, especially it is a central organization to study and preserve the Baekje cultural assets. The artifacts it holds now are up to 13,000 items and on the other hand it conducts numerous studies and examinations of various kinds of relics and artifacts to announce reports and publish academic materials. Also it is very active in diverse social education every year such as the adult lectures of museum for mothers and a children's school for museum where mothers can join too.
It frequently hosts the contests of paintings and sketches for children to get them interested and love their cultural assets and the museum.

Collection of Relics

Collection of Relics

Period : Bronze Age

Excavated site : Songguk-ri, Buyeo

A little stem on the bottom, a long swollen body in oval shape and a short half circled outer curve is characterized as a typical plain coarse pottery. A new type of characterization for earthenware is given to the Songguk-ri relic which was the biggest settlement area in the southern half of the peninsula. In general, the height of Songguk-ri earthenware is 20- 40cm but bigger and smaller ones were also found.

The Songguk-ri earthenware started appearing near the area of Geumgang river in the mid Bronze Age and with expansion of Songguk-ri type culture it spreaded to south western part of the country such as Yeongnam area which is the west of Nakdonggang River.

Plain coarse pottery (Jar of Songguk-ri)

Excavated site : Dongseo-ri, Yesan

Period : Bronze Age

Height : 24.5cm

This bronze implement is in the shape of split bamboo and they are being excavated in only Chungbuk. Upper width is wider than lower and it is divided into two as mid part is protruded little bit, also top and bottom ends consist of narrow faces on surface, and engraved and embossed patterns are shown as short and dotted lines are paralleled with outlines. Straw rope shaped round ring is fixed at link in mid of upper and lower section. The pattern in upper mid expresses a human hand and it shows a close relationship with the Siberian shamanism.

Incense burner gilt-bronze

Designation : National treasure No.287

Excavated site : Neungsan-ri Buyeo

Period : Baekje

Height : 62.5cm

The incense burner consists of base, body and lid. At the base, a dragon sticks up its head and supports the body of burner with its mouth, the body is in a shape of heaped lotus petals that look so real and voluminous and the lid where several mountains are heaped up in thin mode. On the top of lid, a phoenix gazing forward and spre- ading its wings is decorated. The dragon, expressed in the base, is so vivid that its mane, in cloud form, sticks out from body and sharp teeth in a long torn mouth look very real in detail. The body is in a form of lotus flower in full bloom in which there are fish, heavenly bird and heavenly beast are molded and animal figure is seen between and even on top of petals. 74 mountains and peaks are soaring from lid and within these mountains all different kinds of precious bird, rare animals and human figure are portrayed in high relief, also six trees, 12 rocks, stream flowing between mountains, and even a scenery of serene wave at a water side can be seen as well.

16 human figures appear in these mountains, some are strolling here and there with 38 animals including imaginary animals and real animals such as tiger, deer, elephant and monkey. Some meditating under tree, fishing and hunting on horse back. Five musicians each with different musical instruments called Geum, Wanham, Donggo, Jongjeok, So look so real in his unique playing posture on the top of lid. Five birds one on each of five peaks gaze at the phoenix on the ear of lid. At the bottom of the incense burner a dragon, representative of under water animals, in other words " Yin" become the base, on top of the base of incense burner many under water plants and animals are placed in between petals of lotus flower. In upper part on the cover shows trees, mountains, land animals, human figures and fairy and at the top of this heavenly world a phoenix that represents " Yang " is placed. With consideration of all these factors it is believed that " Yin " and " Yang " philosophy was used. It is believed to be a Buddhist ritual utensil in Buddhist temple as it was excavated from typical temple Garam, but for its unique Dosang form it is possible to be rather made for special purpose such as general ceremony for ancestral rituals than typical temple use.

Stone sarira shrine and intaglio

Designation : National treasure No.288

Period : Baekje

Height : 45cm

This stone sarira shrine is made of granite, looks similar to a post box in modern day as it has a round shape of upper area and square in bottom. There are two niches one on each side and the one behind is shallower and shrine surface is rougher than the one on front and there is no sil for cover on the rear. The reason for two niches is presumed that when the rear niche was made a cover-sil was not considered and the rear one was made again. The depth of the niche on the front side is 21.5cm except for cover-sil(4cm). It was empty when excavated. The word inscribed is telling that a princess presented this sarira shrine in the 13th year of king Changwang of Baekje (567AD). From this it is known that king Changwang's sister or brother in law made it to wish their condolence to father King Seongwang. It is important that this stone shrine is the first one from the Three-kingdom era that shows the dates and presenter, also this reveals the year for building Neungsan-ri Buddhist temple which is 567 AD.

he center of inner pot. This is dark gray vessel and potter's clay was made of fine clay mixed with a small quantity of grains of sand.

Sataekjijeok stele

Designation : Chungnam cultural relic No.101

Period : Baekje

Height : 109cm

This is the only one stone monument from Baekje and Sataekjijiok who was a high official during king Euijawang's ruling makes it. This monument is a long rectangular shape, and in the words he shows remorse his honors of old days and felt sorry for the time passing by. Good quality granite was trimmed and smoothed up for words inscription, and the surface was divided with rows of squares lengthwise and crosswise, words are inscribed in each square and 14 words in each vertical row, but only 4 rows are remained to be seen. It is interpreted that Staekjijiok in Nasi castle is becoming weaker as getting old little by little he is sorry for the fact and built a Buddhist temple with gold and a pagoda with jade, the buildings looked so splendid. The words on the monument shows Saryukbyeonryeoche style one of the literary style of calligraphy which was popular for a long time in China and reveals magnificent energy in letters and a cultural level during the time.

Stone sarira shrine and intaglio

Period : Baekje

Height : 25.5cm

It is earthenware in shape of animal such as a tiger. It is regarded as an advanced one from the animal shapes in the Bronze Age. It is presumed from examples in China that they are specially made for the purpose of kitchenwares, tea and light. The chamber pot discovered in Gunsu-ri, Buyeo is considered as a male urinal, the shape had been changed from Chinese chamber pot and shows a uniqueness of Baekje.

Roof tiles

Designation : Treasure No.343

Excavated site : Oe-ri, Gyuam-myun, Buyeo

Period : Baekje

These roof tiles are excavated from the Baekje relic in Oe-ri Gyuam-myun, Buyeo. 8 different tiles were discovered lying in a row from north to south. The tiles were, in general, made in the 6-7th century and show the characteristic of softness and elegance of the Baekje art. Among these tiles, the mountain scenery pattern tile is valued a precious material that could show the styles of building and arts during the time. Tile with phoenix pattern : A very vigorous and beauti- fully curvaceous phoenix, which is an imaginary animal, is placed and petals, in crossed form on each 4 corner, are decorated.

Lotus and cloud pattern tile : The form shows that lotus flower pattern is in the center with eight lively clouds surround in a circle. This tile reveals the typical characteristics of the Baekje that the lotus pattern is composed with designed vivid could pattern, so that is to say, the meeting between the earth(lotus) and the heaven(cloud) in manner of simplicity, harmony in balance.

Dragon pattern tile : A pattern that comically expressed dragon surrounded by cloud is embossed.
Lotus flower pattern tile : A stem of lotus bud with honeysuckle in its petals is expressed in an oval shape of beads.

Phantom pattern tile : A phantom with its head part overly emphasized standing on a pedestal of lotus flower. Phantom with mountain view pattern tile : Shows a phantom standing on a rock above wave patterned cloud. Mountain view with water pattern tile : Mountain peaks, forest, river, rock on the philosophy of heavenly hermit are expressed vividly. It is an important material to study the early stage of landscape painting in Korea.

Phoenix with landscape pattern tile : There is auspicious cloud floating in the heaven where a huge phoenix flying in spreading its wings, and down below there are mountains on the right and left and a structure between them.

Incense burner gilt-bronze

Designation : Treasure No.330

Excavated site : Gunsu-ri, Buyeo-eup

Period : Baekje

Height : 11.2cm

This sculpture was excavated at the ruins of a Baekje temple. The sculpture is wearing a colorfully decorated three mountain shaped crown, and thick hair flows down to shoulder. The face looks a round shaped and flat but cheeks are expressed vigorously. The eyes half open but show a bright smile as both ends of the mouth stick up slightly. Samdo around the neck is not expressed, but a "V" shaped decoration on the chest is added. Although the body is covered with a thick cloth and does not show its outlines of the feature looks voluminous and commanding. The heavenly cloth is "X" shaped at the front and hang down to the ankle like a bird's plumes stick down on both sides, another lower end of cloth around ankle shows "U" shaped crease. The right hand of which little and middle fingers bent holds upward and its left hand hang down with its back toward front side. The two feet are not neatly put together but gave a change with a little bit of twist.
Below the feet a double layers of lotus flower throne is expressed. The heavenly cloth that has a characteristic of "X" is derived from Bukwi and Dongwi in China in the same era. As there is vestige in the rear of the sculpture's head it is presumed that there was a halo fixed behind the head.

This sculpture's features of cloth, hand shows the characteristics of the era. Abundant smile on the flat face was a popular depiction on the Baekje sculptures and it reveals a real expression of the Baekje people's face on a Buddhist sculpture in 6th century.

Seated Buddha

Designation : Treasure No.329

Excavated site : Gunsu-ri, Buyeo-eup

Period : Baekje

This Buddha's sculpture was discovered along with the standing bodhisattva in the ruins of Baekje temple in Gunsu-ri, Buyeo. The sculpture is made of pagodite stone and a statue of Buddha sitting with its legs crossed on a square throne. There is no hair on the head which is tilted slightly toward left. The sculpture shows a full smile of uniqueness on its nearly square face. Tonggyeon(A rob worn in the form of covering both shoulders) : The robe is depicted so thickly that it does not show outline of the body, and the robe hang down from shoulder over lap covers almost all part of the square throne. The robe hanging over the two laps show Ω shape of crease in balanced manner to left and right. The fact, that the sculpture does not show any outline at all, narrowed shoulder, elegant posture of hands interlacing fingers before chest, shows it is a work that keeps well of old manner.

Over all atmospheres of roundness and softness is the typical manner of early Buddha's sculpture and presumed to be made in mid or later 6th century.

Gilt-bronze Buddha triad

Designation : Treasure No.196

Excavated site : Mt. Busosan, Buyeo

Period : Baekje

Height : 8.5cm

This sculpture was excavated from Mt. Busosan, Buyeo in 1916. It is a formality of three bright Buddha together that has a throne of hemisphere, it is called Jung, Jiwon named Buddha's sculpture. As shown by the words on the back the sculpture is made for Jeong Ji-won's deceased wife. The Buddha in the center is Simuoeyeowonin bodhisattva (Hyeopsi) on the right shows a similar sculpturing technique. A long hanging low end of robe is straight down from halo. Hyupsi, bodhisattva on the left has only Sangho and its body torn apart.Halo is Juhyeonggeosingwang that a Hwabul is placed on the upper central part among three Buddha where pattern of 7 flames of fire are sculptured. The formality of throne is a simple and a lotus flower pattern is simply inscribed.

Map of the museum

322-806 16-1 Dongnam-ri, Buyeo, Chungcheongnamdo, South Korea.

Tel: +82-41-833-8562~3

FAX: +82-41-834-6321~3193