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| yna@yna.co.kr 2022-07-22 15:59:42
SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- The grand sound, followed by the feeling of as if a human is crying, repeatedly fades away and then comes back to life.
The clarity of the sound, which seems to last for more than a minute, makes the listener feel a sense of calmness and mystery. There is a special energy that makes one feel more humble, freeing oneself from arrogance and greed.
It is the mystery and energy of the Korean Buddhist bell, with endless charm.
From the sound that vomits the soul to the elaborate exterior decoration, Korean Buddhist bells boast its typical personality and beauty. For this reason, it was given the name, "Korean Bell."
The Korean bell showed its mysterious charm at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeonchang Winter Olympic Games.
The huge bell placed at the middle of the field was enough to catch the attention of the people around the world.
The "Peace Bell," a reenactment of the oldest Bronze Bell of Sangwonsa Temple, located on Odaesan Mountain, was cast in 725 (the 24th year of King Seongdeok's reign) during the Silla Period, was revealed.
The end of the countdown to announce the start was filled with the majestic sound of this bell.
The sound which echoed in harmony with the holographic video introducing Korea's cultural heritage, has deeply moved 7 billion people around the world, making it one of the most impressive opening ceremony of all Olympic Games.
This bell was created by Won Gwang-sik (81), a master of the National Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 112, Jucheoljang (casting).
It is a work produced by an elderly craftsman in his 80s, who has so much experience that he can even make paper with his eyes closed.
Master Won devoted his life to finding the sound of the bells of the unified Silla.
It is not an exaggeration to say that most of the bells worthy of the name of any temple or region in Korea were born through his hands.
His works include the Bosingak Bell in Seoul, the Grand Bell at Daejeon Expo, the Cheonyeondae Bell in Chungbuk, the Peace Bell in Imjingak, as well as the bronze bells in Jogyesa Temple, Haeinsa Temple, Tongdosa Temple, Bulguksa Temple, Seonunsa Temple, Seonamsa Temple, Hwaeomsa Temple, and Songgwangsa Temple.
His works, full of soul, are also seen in Buddhist countries such as the Myeongseonsa Bell (33t), the largest Buddhist bell in Taiwan. When the reporters visited on Thursday, he was still busy with his work, sitting in a studio filled with the smell of sweat.
Although his words and actions were as slow as his deep wrinkles, his eyes lit up as he talked about the bell. He was like a 20-year-old man who couldn't hold back his excitement because of his fascination towards bells.
He said that he does not pour molten iron during the rainy season with high humidity like these days. This is because air bubbles may form in the iron, and the desired sound may not be obtained.
"Air bubbles formed on the exterior of the iron can be filled up smoothly applying a finishing material, but can a proper sound be made like that? That's why we blast furnace off. We're waiting till the sky allows it."
In a few short words, the stubborn principles and his philosophy of the old craftsman were conveyed.
In fact, he still studies and devotes himself to making the "best sound."
Born in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi province, his relationship with bells began at the age of 17 while working at a foundry run by one of his family relatives.
The work was very hard. There was also a time when the molted iron splattered and blinded his right eye, which led to expelling him from the factory.
However, his attraction to bells did not allow him to stop there. Because of the sound of the bell he heard whenever he went to sleep, he went to Sudeoksa Temple in Yesan, South Chungcheong province, and started making bells again.
With his family relative passing away in 1973, he took over Seongjongsa as it had lost its owner. With the rumor saying that his products sounded different, his business began to grow.
However, instead of focusing on running a factory, he focused on finding the sound of tradition.
While searching for the bells of Silla and Goryeo that has been leaked to Japan and China, he repeated the process of picking up takbon (traditional Korean print method) and restoring them.
Won Gwang-sik , who finally restored the traditional beeswax model method after it was lost during the Japanese Colonial Period in 1994, he was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2001.
The lonely road that he has been walking for over 60 years has faced a golden era, but he still has one final goal. It is to leave behind a masterpiece that is admired by the future generations.
"It is important to carry on the tradition, but we shouldn't only focus on protecting and restoring old things," he said. "From there, we have to make a bell of this era to make a progress."
"I think I only understood the principal of making a real sound last year," he continued. "It's a shame that I only got to realize it now, but I think I'll be able to make a product that I'd be really satisfied with before I die."
When asked if he was unsatisfied with his work so far, he answered, "I don't think there's such as thing as 100 points in this world, and there shouldn't be."
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)
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