Bulguksa
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Location | Gyeongju, South Korea |
Criteria | Cultural: i, iv |
Reference | 736 |
Inscription | 1995 (19th Session) |
Website | www |
Coordinates | 35°47′24″N 129°19′56″E / 35.79000°N 129.33222°E |
Bulguksa | |
Hangul | 불국사 |
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Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Bulguksa |
McCune–Reischauer | Pulguksa |
Bulguksa (Korean: 불국사) is a Buddhist temple on Tohamsan, in Jinhyeon-dong, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
It is a head temple of the
The temple is considered as a masterpiece of the golden age of Buddhist art in the Silla kingdom. It is currently the head temple of the 11th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
Among the earliest
History
The temple's records state that a small temple was built on this site under
The temple was renovated during the
After World War II and the Korean War, a partial restoration was conducted in 1966. Upon an extensive archeological investigation, major restoration was conducted between 1969 and 1973 by the order of President Park Chung Hee, bringing Bulguksa to its current form. The famous stone structures are preserved from the original Silla construction.
Hyun Jin-geon published a historical novel on the construction of the Seokgatap and Dabotap pagodas, which were the basis for the 1957 South Korean drama film Shadowless Pagoda.
Structure
The temple is located on the slopes of Tohamsan, in Jinheon-dong, Gyeongju.[9]
The entrance to the temple, Sokgyemun, has a double-sectioned staircase and bridge (
There are two
The terrestrial and the two celestial abodes are manifested in Bulguksa: the terrestrial with a
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Map of the main complex
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Daeungjeon, Main Hall
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Museoljeon, Hall of No Words
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Geugnakjeon, Hall of Supreme Bliss
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Gwaneumjeon, Avalokitesvara's Shrine
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Birojeon
Official treasures
National Treasures No. 20 and 21
The two famous stone pagodas, Dabotap and Seokgatap reside in the main courtyard of the Bulguksa Temple complex. They are, respectively, the twentieth and twenty-first
National Treasure No. 22
The Yeonhwagyo (Lotus Flower Bridge, 연화교,蓮華橋) and Chilbogyo (Seven Treasures Bridge, 칠보교,七寶橋) are a pair of bridges at Bulguksa.[11] This bridge was designated as the 22nd national treasure on December 20, 1962. The bridge lead to Anyangmun (Peace Enhancing Gate, 안양문,安養門) leading to Geuknakjeon (the Hall of the Pure Land). This pair were built at the same time as their brother bridges, National Treasure No. 23.
These pair of bridges share the 45 degree incline, arch underneath, and the combination bridge/staircase design of their brother bridges. However, one noticeable difference is that this bridge is smaller. The lower Lotus Flower Bridge has 10 steps while the upper Seven Treasures Bridge contains 8 steps. This bridge is on the west in relation to the Blue Cloud and White Cloud Bridges. The Lotus Flower Bridge is known for its delicate carvings of Lotus Flowers on each step but these have faded with the weight of many pilgrims. Today, visitors are restricted from walking on the bridge.
National Treasure No. 23
The Cheongungyo (Blue Cloud Bridge, 청운교,靑雲橋) and Baegungyo (White Cloud Bridge, 백운교,白雲橋) Bridges of Bulguksa Temple are two bridges that are a part of a stairway that leads to the temple.[11] The bridges were probably built in 750 during the reign of King Gyeongdeok. Although built separately, they are designated together as one single national treasure. They were designated as the 23rd national treasure on December 20, 1962.
The Blue Cloud Bridge makes up the upper span of the stair while the White Cloud Bridge is the lower part. The bridges lead to the Jahamun (Golden Purple Gate, 자하문,紫霞門) which leads to
National Treasure No. 26
National Treasure No. 26 (경주 불국사 금동비로자나불좌상, 慶州 佛國寺 金銅毘盧遮那佛坐像, Gyeongju Bulguksa geumdong birojana buljwasang), designated on December 20, 1962, is a seated gilt-bronze Vairocana Buddha statue at Bulguksa Temple.
The Buddha of Enlightenment is enshrined in the Birojeon. It is 1.77 meters in height and made from gilt-bronze. The head of the Buddha has an usnisa, a symbol of supreme wisdom. The head of the Buddha was made by fusing two shells to each other and the face is elongated and soft. The robes of the Buddha are highly detailed and the simulation of folded cloth rippling down from the shoulder to the lap is done with high skill. The hands of the Buddha are in a position, the right index finger covered by the left hand, which often is used to symbolize the Buddha of Enlightenment. The figure is estimated to be from the 9th century due to stylistic evidence, including the overly wide lap and the lack of tension in the depiction of the robes and face of the Buddha.
National Treasure No. 27
The seated gilt-bronze
The Amitabha Buddha statue is 1.66 meters in height and enshrined in Geuknakjeon. This gilt-bronze statue was probably cast in the late 8th or early part of the 9th century and it shares the style of National Treasure No. 26. The head of the statue is made by fixing two shell-like pieces together. The face has a distinctively aquiline nose. The Buddha has broad shoulders and strong chest while the large lap gives the figure a sense of proportional harmony and stability. The style of the robe seems to be more stylized and haphazard. The position of the left hand raised at shoulder-level palm forward and the right hand is placed at the lap. The style of the Buddha seems to follow an abstract and stylized tradition rather than a representation of realism.
Treasure No. 61
This sarira pagoda (사리탑), or stupa, looks like a stone lantern. It stands 2.1 meters tall and is located at the left side of the front garden of Birojeon. The artifact was at one point taken to Japan in 1906 but was returned in 1933. It is from the
A sarira is a container for the relics or remains of famous priests or royalty. It is said that this sarira contained the remains of eight priests or a queen. The three main features of the piece are the foundation stone, the main body, and the ornamental top. The foundation is an octagonal stone decorated with carvings. Atop this foundation is a circular stone incised with lotus motifs. The pillar supports of the main body are carved with a cloud motif while the main body is cylindrical and has four
See also
- Korean Buddhist temples
- List of South Korean tourist attractions
- List of Buddhist topics
- Tourism in Gyeongju
References
- ^ "Historic and Scenic Sites 1; Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju". Cultural Heritage Administration. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "North Korea — Silla". Countrystudies.us. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "A History of Writings in Japanese and Current Studies in the Field of Rare Books in Japan - 62nd IFLA General Conference". Ifla.org. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "Gutenberg and the Koreans: The Invention of Movable Metal Type Printing in Korea". Rightreading.com. 2006-09-13. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "by Cho Woo-suk, JoongAng Daily, November 22, 2004". Eng.buddhapia.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "National Treasure No. 126-6, by the Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea (in Korean)". jikimi.cha.go.kr. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
- ISBN 9788126132591.
- ISBN 9780761475545.
- ISBN 9788126132591.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bulguk-sa Temple - Structures". Archived from the original on 2006-05-10.
- ^ a b "Bulguk-sa Temple - Treasures". Archived from the original on 2006-05-04.
- ^ "토함산솔이파리". Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-13.