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Bulguksa Temple is a representative relic of Buddhist culture from the Silla kingdom. The temple, along with Seokguram Grotto, was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1995.
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SOUTH KOREA Gyeongju Bulguksa Royal Temple Complex
Known as the ‘Museum without Walls’ because of the vast number of cultural properties and archaeological sites of the city, Gyeongju was the former capital of the Silla Kingdom, which ruled Korea from the 7th to the 9th centuries. Many of the city’s buildings, including temple complexes, palaces and a royal observatory, are protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Bulguksa Royal Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be one of the finest temples on the Korean Peninsula. A masterpiece of Silla architecture and artwork, it was constructed in the 8th century and is elaborately painted and decorated. Located on the flank of Tohamsan Mountain in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Bulguksa Temple was founded by Kim Dae-seong in 751 (the 10th year of the reign of King Gyeongdeok of the Unified Silla Dynasty). According to Samgukyusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Bulguksa Temple was built for the parents of Kim’s present life whereas Seokguram Grotto was carved for the parents of his previous existence
The beautiful pond, called BanyaYeonji, is an additional attraction near Bulguksa. Bulguksa is located on the slopes of mount Toham (Jinheon-dong, Gyeongju city, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea). It is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and is a representative relic of Buddhist culture from the Silla kingdom
TheNational Reforestation Programme, restored the forest ecosystem which now occupies 64% of the country’s landscape In the 1950s, Korean forest coverage hit its lowest, marking up only 35% of the landscape Maritime Pine barkpattern is seamless texture
Entrance Gate Cheon-Wangmun (Four Guardian Kings)
West North
East South
Entrance Gate Cheon-Wangmun (Four Guardian Kings) Gate Cheon-Wangmun marks the entrance to the temple. The purpose of the Four Heavenly Kings in the second gate is to protect Buddhism and the Buddha’s teachings. Their ferocious looks reflect their duty to force unruly spirits to submit to their will and to focus the minds of temple visitors
Here you can buy ceramic tiles which you can pen your well wishes on Korean temples have most of the time a traditional architecture, and the roofs are mainly composed by thousands of tiles that can be damaged or destroyed with the time. By buying new tiles to the temple, visitors can financially support the monks but also write down their wishes or messages that will be litteraly slot in the temple
Entrance view with stairway leading to Jahamun Gate: Cheongungyo Bridge (Blue Cloud Bridge) and Baekungyo Bridge (White Cloud Bridge)
Daeungjeon(Sakyamuni Hall) and Geungnakjeon (Amithaba Hall), the prayer halls of Bulguksa Temple, can be reached by two ways – via Cheongungyo and Baegungyo Bridges to the east, or via Yeonhwagyo and Chilbogyo Bridges to the west. Cheongungyo Bridge (Blue Cloud Bridge) and Baekungyo Bridge (White Cloud Bridge) are connected to Jahamun Gate, which leads to Sakyamuni Hall, and are considered to be symbolic structures that connect the world of common people under the bridge with the world of Buddha over it
The Blue Cloud Bridge makes up the lower span of the stair while the White Cloud Bridge is the upper part. The bridges lead to the Jahamun (Golden Purple Gate) which leads to Shakyamuni Hall. There are 33 steps on the stairway, which slopes at a 45 degree angle, and each step corresponds to one of the 33 heavens of Buddhism. The lower Blue Cloud Bridge has seventeen steps while the upper White Cloud Bridge has sixteen. The large arch underneath the stairwell testifies to the use of arches in Silla-style bridges and the remains of a pond that once flowed underneath the bridge
Since the under part of the bridges is rainbow-shaped arch, it make smooth and vital the view that is hardened by the rectilinear lines. It is said that there used to be a pond under the reinforced stonewall where the bridges are. Even now, a device making water fall down remains to the left of the staircase. It is said that when water fell from here, a rainbow was created by the spray from the falling water. Presumed to have been built in 751 (the 10th year of the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Unified Silla), these structures are very precious because they are the only bridges of the Silla Period to have survived fully intact. Furthermore, the rainbow-shaped arch of the under part is of great significance as it provides an indication of the earliest use of arches in stone bridges and fortress gates.
Bulguksa Temple has suffered through many of the nation’s most severe trials. The series of elevated stone terraces and the overall masonry foundation mostly survive intact from the 8th century, but the original wooden buildings were all burned down during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and have been restored about 40 times since the initial reconstruction in the 37th year (1604) of King Seonjo of the Joseon Dynasty Bulguksa Temple Stone Elevation, considered National Treasure
Danggan is a flagpole hoisting the flag called dang, and Dangganjiju(flagpole support) is a pair of stone pillars erected to support the flagpole. There are two pairs of Dangganjiju at Bulguksa temple
The temple is framed by corridors into which Jahamun Gate, Shakyamuni Hall, and Museoljeon Hall are built. According to Buddhist beliefs, lanterns symbolize wisdom in that they bring light to the world. Lightinglantern, is an important ritual in Buddhism.You can make a small donation and hang your own paper lantern in the temple complex. A small paper tag is attached to the lantern, and people write their name and a wish on the card
Mogeo drum, or mok-eo is an instrument used in Buddhist rituals in Korea. It is a kind of wooden fish and) stands for all beings in the water. It is a Dharma instrument which admonishes practitioners to be constantly awake to cultivate themselves just as fish keep their eyes open day and night
When the Dharma ceremony is conducted in the early mornings and evenings at temples, the sounds of the four instruments are offered first of all. The four instrumentsare: the Dharma drum, the temple bell, the wooden fish and the cloud-shaped gong. The Dharma drum is sounded to save all land animals
Shakyamuni Hall Jahamun gate The large temple site is centred on two courts. One of the courts is centred on Daeungjeon, the hall which houses the Shakyamuni Buddha
Daeungjeon (the Hall of Great Enlightenment) Carved and painted eaves
There are two pagodas on the Shakyamuni temple site. The three-story Seokgatap (Sakyamuni Pagoda) which stands at 8.2 meters and Dabotap (Yin). Its name can literally be translated as “the pagoda of abundant treasures”. With its 10m high, this one also dates from the Unified Silla period. Its image is reproduced on the South Korean 10 won coin Dabotap and Seokgatap are Korean National Treasures
Daeungjeon (the Hall of Great Enlightenment) is the main hall, enshrines the Sakyamuni Buddha and was first built in 681
Geungnakjeon(Hall of paradise), standing near the main compound, enshrines the gilt-bronze seated Amitabha Buddha that is national treasure
This 1.66-meter-tall statue of Amitabha Buddha is an ideal and highly refined work of the Unified Silla Period. This statue is regarded as one of the three greatest gilt-bronze Buddhist statues of the Unified Silla Period, along with the Gilt-bronze Seated Vairocana Buddha of Bulguksa Temple and the Gilt-bronze Standing Bhaisajyaguru Buddha of Baengnyulsa Temple.
The lucky pig Geungnakjeon(Hall of paradise)
Museoljeon Hall. It is believed to be the oldest structure in the temple area
Museoljeon Hall The hall has been used for various Buddhist lectures. YeongsanHoesangdo (the assembly on Vulture Peak), is a large altar painting produced in 1749
