▲ This photo, provided by the National Museum of Korea, shows a display of Korean traditional roof tiles. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- A special exhibition about decorative roof tiles used in traditional architectures, ‘Chimi,’ will be held in Washington, the capital of the United States.

The National Museum of Korea announced on the 29th that they will hold a special exhibition “Once Upon a Roof: Vanished Korean Architecture” in cooperation with Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, at Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, until October 30.

This is the second special exhibition to be held under the collaboration of two museums, after their first exhibition “Sacred Dedication: A Korean Buddhist Masterpiece,” and it is the first exhibition to introduce Chimi in America.

In this exhibition, about 20 pieces of relics were opened to public, including Sumaksae (roof-tile used at the end of eaves of a wooden building), a brick with landscape design, and Chimis submitted by the National Museum of Korea, Gyeongnju National Museum, Buyeo National Museum, and Iksan National Museum.

Chimi, a roof tile decorating both ends of roofs of royal palaces and temples, not only makes the architecture beautiful, but functions to fix the roofs at the same time. It was also used as a symbol of calling good energy as well as driving out bad energy.

Besides the relics, a restoration model of architecture of Baekje is displayed, and explanation materials about the origin and production method of Chimi and the history of Mireuksa temple are also prepared.

In addition, an online academic conference will be held on July 26, in which Korean and American scholars will discuss Korean ancient architectures and roof tiles.

An official from the National Museum of Korea said, “Chimi, passed down from the 4th century, was utilized as an important element of architecture until the Goryeo dynasty,” adding, “We hope visitors can have opportunity to understand the materials, technology, and philosophy of Korean traditional architecture.”


(This article is translated from Korean to English by Kim Jimin.)



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