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Korean Buddhist temples contain a broad range of traditional patterns as well as handcarved sutras.
Interesting and distinctively Korean patterns can be found on tiles, pagodas, and stupas, while sutras on woodblocks or bronze plates feature a number of patterns as well as beautifully carved ideograms.
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Rubbings can be taken from many of these sources with traditional mulberry paper, ink and a stick of cotton.Simply cover the desired object with the mulberry paper and tap around the area, following the curves and lines, with the ink-stained cotton stick.
Then remove the paper and the rubbing is finished. The process becomes highly creative, depending on the material to be rubbed, the use of light and dark, and technique.
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Many of the temples in the program have monks who are well-versed in taking rubbings, and objects for rubbing vary from the simple to national treasures.
The monks can demonstrate the technique for you and let you try it for yourself. And participants can take their works back with them as souvenirs of their visit.
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Rubbings can be taken from a broad range of materials, including tiles, rocks, metal, bricks, rock reliefs, tombstones and sutra plates. By tapping the paper around the object with the ink-stained cotton stick, you can make a perfect reproduction of the design, pattern, or character.
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Since this method captures even the tiniest details, rubbings become important materials for study inlanguage, linguistics, archeology, art and other fields. People may also apply a variety of techniques to achieve stunning effects to make works of art. Rubbings of the same object can different depending on such factors as the darkness of the ink, the weather, humidity, etc.
Also, since rubbings come, for all practical purposes, in a limited edition (as opposed to printing), the artistic value and appreciation increases.
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Rubbings can be done by virtually anyone. The most common method is 1) placing the paper over the object, 2) spraying or brushing water over the paper, and 3) rubbing or tapping with the ink-stained cotton stick. Repeated tapping can increase the intensity of the ink.
The cotton stick is lightweight and can be manipulated to darken or accent different portions of the rubbing.
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SSutra rubbings from the woodblocks provide a long-lasting copy of the Buddha's teachings. The rubbing of a rock relief Buddha can leave you with a nearly timeless fragrance and a souvenir of the skills of craftsmen from centuries ago.
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