02 · Golden Era Route

Bulguksa Temple

Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, a nation of Buddha reincarnated on earth

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Planning the visit

Bulguksa Temple is stop 3 of 8 on the Golden Era Route.

You will find the stamp at the Culture and Tourism Commentator's Office at Bulguksa Temple.

Admission is charged: Adults KRW 6,000 / Teenagers KRW 4,000 / Children KRW 3,000.

The two closest stamp points are Seokguram Grotto, 1.8 km away, and Gyerim Forest at 11 km. All three fit into one day.

Details

Address

385, Bulguk-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Stamp zone

Culture and Tourism Commentator’s Office at Bulguksa Temple

Hours

Weekdays 09:00-18:00 Weekends and holidays 09:00-18:00 (Open year round; pets are not allowed, Hours may be changed at the discretion of the host (Please check viewing hours before entering).)

Admission

Adults KRW 6,000 / Teenagers KRW 4,000 / Children KRW 3,000

Phone

054-746-9913

Website

www.bulguksa.or.kr

Coordinates

35.78899, 129.33089

What the campaign says about it

Bulguksa Temple, located in the heart of Tohamsan Mountain, is the crown jewel of Gyeongju and one of the most important Korean Heritages of Korea. “Bulguk” means “a nation of the Buddha,” which means Bulguksa Temple is the manifestation of an ideal world the people of Silla, who were devout Buddhists, wanted to create in their secular world. According to the Bulguksaseoseoktap Jungsuhyeongjigi (1038 CE), discovered inside the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Bulguksa Temple, the Temple was founded in 752 CE. Each building built using sophisticated technology and style reflects a divine Buddhist worldview. The entire compound is divided by a stone platform. Below the platform is the secular world, while above the platform is the divine world of Buddha. The stone platform also features Cheongungyo Bridge and Baekungyo Bridge (national treasure no. 23) which leads to Daeungjeon Hall. Designed to connect the secular world with the divine world of Buddha, Cheongungyo and Baegungyo have an arched passage at the bottom, which makes the entire temple look majestic yet delicate at the same time. Yeonhwagyo Bridge and Chilbogyo Bridge (national treasure no. 22), both of which are on the sides of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, also have a unique structure that combine a staircase and a bridge. Access to these Bridges, which are symbols from Buddhist scriptures that say Paradise is adorned with lotus flowers and the seven treasures (“Chilbo”), is said to have been reserved for those who had successfully reached the state of complete enlightenment. Located in the center of Gyeongju Bulguksa Temple is Daeungjeon Hall (treasure no. 1744). In the eastern wing of the Temple is Dabotap Pagoda (national treasure no. 20), while in the western wing of the Temple is the Three-story Stone Pagoda (national treasure no. 21). The two pagodas, considered the epitome of Buddhist art, express ideas and concepts from the Lotus Sutra, which contains teachings from Sakyamuni Buddha and testimonies from Prabhutaratna. Dabotap Pagoda stands out because of its splendid decorations, while Seokgatap is notable for its perfectly balanced proportions that creates a sense of great stability. The creative combination of the two Pagodas create their own sense of unique harmony. Cheongungyo and Baegungyo at Bulguksa Temple are bridges connected to the Jahamun Gate leading to Daeungjeon Hall. They are meant to connect the secular world of people, which is under the bridge, with the divine world of Buddha, which is above the bridge. Also, Cheongungyo represents youth, whereas Baegungyo represents old age, and together they mean the cycle of life. Yeonhwagyo Bridge and Chilbogyo Bridge at Bulguksa Temple lead to Anyangmun Gate, which then leads to Geuknakjeon Hall. Both Bridges are said to be reserved for the fully enlightened only. Since its foundation, countless people have climbed the two Bridges to pray for rebirth in paradise. According to legend, Queen Heongang of Silla, who became a Buddhist monk later in life, also frequented Bulguksa Temple to pray for her husband’s rebirth in paradise. The original stone lanterns and masonry of Daeungjeon Hall at Bulguksa Temple remain in great condition. The Hall itself, however, was rebuilt in 1765 CE (41st year of King Yeongjo) on its original platform. Dabotap Pagoda at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju is Korea's most famous stone pagoda and a structure that showcases the essence of art from the unified Silla in the 8th century CE. Unfortunately, around 1925, the Pagoda was completely dismantled by the Japanese, and this is when the relics and documents from inside the Pagoda are believed to have been taken. One of the Stone Lions guarding the masoned steps of Dabotap was also looted - now, only one out of the four original Stone Lions remain. The original name of the Three-story Stone Pagoda at Bulguksa Temple was the “Seokgayeoraesangjuseolbeoptap,” which is why it is called the “Seokgatap” in Korean. In 1966, while repairing the Pagoda damaged by looters, archaeologists discovered the world's oldest woodblock print, the “Mugujeonggwang Daedaranigyeong” (national treasure), along with other relics inside the Pagoda.

Quoted from the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign.

Getting there

Get off at the KTX Singyeongju station → Take bus no. 50 (to Singyeongju, Yonggang, Chunghyo) at the Singyeongju station bus stop → Get off at the Express Bus or Intercity Bus Terminal bus stop, then transfer to bus no. 11 → Get off at Bulguksa Temple bus stop → Walk for 10 minutes

Photographs

Photographs supplied by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.