For ascertaining the genuineness of the five-story- bronze stupa dated to around the 7th century, allegedly made during; the period of the Three Kingdoms, was examined by means of optical and electron microscopy as well as by characteristic X-ray mapp...
For ascertaining the genuineness of the five-story- bronze stupa dated to around the 7th century, allegedly made during; the period of the Three Kingdoms, was examined by means of optical and electron microscopy as well as by characteristic X-ray mapping. Each story was bronze cast excerpt the upper copper plate of the stylobate, which was forged and then coated with phosphate for corrosion resistance. Interdendritic phases were esprciallv severely attacked at the surface or on inner parts of specimens whereas the copper plate was preserved well in spite of deep corrosion in the phosphate lover. In addition to the corrosion characteristics, the facts that the bronze contains relatively a high level of silver and that the plate contains manor elongated non-metallic inclusions which mostly consisted the suphides suggest that both the bronze cast and the copper plate were made in ancient times even though we could not determine tlne exact age when this stupa was made.