Korean Temple Part 2

Today, i helped a friend collate information on the Korean temples. well, helping her also means helping myself because after a day of researching on the temples, i now have more than enough information to do a korean temples' introduction here. So here is part 2, the temples that i haven't been, but would like to visit.

From Seoul, let's move on first to the very important temples that have great historical value in Korea. We shall now travel to Gyeongju (in Gyeongsangbuk-do), the capital of the Unified Silla Period.

Bulguksa (불국사 / 佛國寺)

Bulguksa Temple is the representative relic of Gyeongju and was designated as a World Cultural Asset by UNESCO in 1995. The beauty of the temple itself and the artistic touch of the stone relics are known throughout the world.

Bulguksa Temple was built in 528 during the Silla Dynasty, in the 15th year of King Beop-Heung's reign (514~540). It was called Hwaeom Bulguksa Temple or Beopryusa Temple back then. In 751, under King Gyeong-Deok (reign 742∼765), Kim Dae-Seong (700~774) started rebuilding the temple and finished in 774, under King Hye-Gong (reign 765~780). After 17 years of construction, the name 'Bulguksa' was finally given to the temple.

The name 'Bulguksa' was kept through numerous renovations of the temple from the Goryeo Dynasty (918~1392) to the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). But during the Imjinwaeran War (the war provoked by Japan's invasion, 1592~1598) the wooden building was burned, 819 years after first being established.
From 1604, during Joseon Dynasty (King Seon-Jo's 37th year) the reconstruction started again and was renovated approximately 40 times till 1805, to the reign of King Sun-Jo (1790~1834). But the temple still suffered many robberies and damage afterwards.

The Bulguksa Temple of today has many cultural relics preserved within it, such as Dabo-tap (National Treasure No.20), Sukga-tap (National Treasure No.21) Yeonhwa-gyo* Chilbo-gyo (National Treasure No.22), Cheongun-gyo*Baekun-gyo (National Treasure No.23) Golden Seated Vairocana Buddhist Figure (National Treasure No.26), Golden Seated Amita Figure (National Treasure No.27) and Sari-tap (National Treasure No.61) among others.

This is a very famous temple in Korea, a MUST NEVER MISS temple if you go to Korea.

Next up will be Seokguram Grotto (석굴암 / 石窟庵)

I fall in love with Seokguram Grotto the moment i see this picture.


Seokguram Grotto is within walking distance from Bulguksa.
Kim Tae-song's other creation, Sokkur-am, ＂Cave of the Buddha,＂ was made at the same time as Bulguk-sa Temple -- about 751. The man-made cave houses one of the most beautiful Buddha statues in the world. High up on Mt. Toham-san, behind Bulguk-sa Temple, the cave was constructed in order that the early morning rays of the sun fall on the face of the Buddha. The nine-meter high, domed rotunda also contains an eleven-headed Avalokitesvara statue, which is famous for its exquisite beauty.
Thirty-nine Bodhisattvas, the Buddha Sakyamuni's ten enlightened disciples, gods and guardians are also found in the cave, which was built to represent the Buddhist world.

You enter the grotto from the side and pass into a corridor in which, through a huge glass window, you can see the lovely Buddha statue. Just on the other side of the glass there a chamber in which chanting and bowing is done (Sokkur-am is a functioning temple). A short passageway, at the entrance to which there are two guardians, leads into the main chamber.


Information above found in http://eng.koreatemple.net/

That's it for Part 2. Will continue with the Gyeongju temples in Part 3.
Going to take a break. See you guys!