The Breath and Technology of Ancestors Revealed Through Light

National Museum of Korea Special Exhibition 'Science of Light, Unveiling the Secrets of Cultural Heritage'
Focus on Discoveries, Inspection, and Diagnosis Through Invisible Light

Gyeongbokgung Gyotaejeon Rear Wall Painting

Light is essential for appreciating and studying cultural heritage. Visible light alone is not enough. Invisible light such as infrared, ultraviolet, and X-rays is also necessary. These are crucial keys to uncovering hidden production techniques.

The National Museum of Korea is holding a special exhibition titled "The Science of Light, Revealing the Secrets of Cultural Heritage" until November 15. This conservation science exhibition explores the secrets of our cultural heritage through light. It showcases 67 cultural heritage items comprising 57 artifacts, including the Gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva (National Treasure No. 78).

The exhibition categorizes light into three types. The first is "visible light," referring to the light and colors that permeated the lives of our ancestors. A representative example is the bronze mirror used during the Bronze Age. It was not a tool for reflection like modern mirrors. Geometric patterns were engraved on the back. Sunlight was concentrated to communicate with the heavens. The glass cup excavated from the Southern Tomb of Hwangnam Daechong in Gyeongju (National Treasure No. 193) also prominently features visible light. The upper part was made with flowing glass to create 4 to 5 layers of undulations. It was adorned with a blue wave-patterned band and three rows of glass strips decorated in a lattice pattern below the band.

Glass cup excavated from the South Tomb of Hwangnam Daechong in Gyeongju

The second type is "invisible light," focusing on discovery. It refers to infrared, ultraviolet, and X-rays that reveal the secrets of cultural heritage. Infrared has a longer wavelength than visible light. It penetrates surface layers to read erased writings on ancient relics. A representative example is the multiplication table wooden tablet found in Ssangbuk-ri, Buyeo. It revealed traces of records divided into sections from 9 times to 2 times tables. An official stated, "It played an important role in understanding the food and educational culture of the Three Kingdoms period."

Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength than visible light and strong fluorescence. It is used to detect repair traces on ceramics or metal cultural properties. An official said, "It makes it easy to find damaged parts or restoration of glaze layers on ceramics that are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye." In the case of the white porcelain figure on a bench, some restoration parts were identified in the wooden vine pattern on the backrest of the bench. Zinc pigment was used for the restoration.

Baekja Baekyu Pyeongsanginmul

X-rays have a shorter wavelength than other lights and strong penetration power. They help understand the internal structure, condition, and composition of cultural heritage. Computed tomography is widely used for cross-sectional investigation. A representative example is the horse-riding figure pottery (National Treasure No. 91) discovered in Geumryeong Tomb, Gyeongju, in 1924. The 3D imaging of the kettle structure revealed that it could hold 240 cc of liquid inside. An official said, "The internal structures of the celadon openwork cloisonn? incense burner (National Treasure No. 95) and the Geumgangsan-shaped water dropper were also identified through computed tomography," adding, "It was confirmed that there is a water channel for filling and releasing water."

The third type is "invisible light" focused on inspection and diagnosis. It highlights the conservation status of cultural heritage through infrared, ultraviolet, and X-rays. For effective explanation, the museum is revealing two mural paintings from the back wall of Gyotaejeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace for the first time. These are the Bird-and-Flower Painting and the Original Crown Peninsula Painting, both anonymous court decorative paintings representing the late Joseon period. Painted after the reconstruction of Gyotaejeon in 1888, they uniquely used brass powder to depict the golden outlines of rocks.

Ssangyeongchong Neolgil East Wall Mural

The exhibition also features an infrared image of the east wall mural in the Ssangyeong Tomb's wooden coffin chamber. It reveals two ox carts, a Gaema warrior horseman, and about thirty men and women from Goguryeo, which are difficult to see with the naked eye. An official said, "Infrared photography and X-ray fluorescence analysis allowed us to identify not only the paintings depicted in each row but also the pigments used." They added, "We hope that the hidden stories contained within cultural heritage will prompt us to reflect on the museum's role and lead to wise cultural living."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.