Seokguram cave and Bulguksa temple

Unesco's Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization has recognized Seokguram Cave and Korea's Bulguksa Temple as a World Cultural Heritage in 1995.

Seokguram is a national-level historical monument of Korea and is Korea's greatest historical monument. Not only that, Seokguram cave is also known in the world as the largest Buddhist art work. Seokguram is actually the temple in the cave of Bulguksa Temple . This temple was built during the most prosperous period of temple and temple architecture, the time when the pagoda in the cave was built in places like India, central Asia, China in about 1000 years. before.

Unlike other Buddhist countries, Korea has almost no temple in the cave created by nature. Seokguram Cave is built from natural stone materials with very special style with ingenuity and skillful hands of people. Seokguram looks to the east sea and is 750 meters above sea level in Gyeonju National Park near the top of Tohan Mountain, east of Bulguksa Temple.

Seokguram Cave is formed from hundreds of thousands of large and small stone slabs with unique designs in noble and extremely delicate style. The large Buddha statue set in the middle of the room along with the Dharma protectors around is the masterpieces of carved art and is considered a symbol of Buddhist philosophy and aesthetics.

Along with the Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram cave built by King Gyeong Deok (reign of King 742 - 765) was under the reign of Silla . In the following years, under the reign of King Kim Dea Jung 765-780 Seokguram caves and Bulguksa Temple continued to be completed.

This sanctuary of the temple worshiped a large Buddha statue on the pedestal in the middle of the room, surrounded by dharma protectors to help the cave avoid the persecution of the weather. The ceiling is made into a semicircle and carved a large lotus, covering the entire dome. Early in the morning, many people come here or neighborhoods to watch the sun rise, a wonderful masterpiece of nature bestowed on this place.

Seokguram Cave is a symbol of Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist aesthetics. Moreover, Seokguram cave is also a work of art expressing the combination of scientific calculation and excellent aestheticism of Asian-born artists. Many aesthetics, many experts and researchers of art, architecture and Buddhism had to utter astonished when they visited and looked at Seokguram cave. There are also countless experts who say that this is an unrivaled architecture in Korea.

Researchers and scholars say Seokguram's sustainability is historical evidence under Sila. According to legend Kim Dae Seong built Seokguram mountain for his parents. Looking closely at the position of the buddha statue facing the sunrise as a similar point to the King Mun - moo Tomb built underwater, Seokguram is built with the purpose of showing homage to the house. King Silla and royal family.

Bulguksa Temple is considered by Koreans to be the largest and most beautiful monastery of their country. As the entire building was built in rows, rows of stone steps, Bulguksa looked like a wooden base of T'ohamsan rock mountain . Bulguksa Temple was built at the beginning of the Shilla dynasty, a flourishing dynasty of Korean Buddhism. The queen of the dynasty Shilla has vowed to build a temple to pray for the prosperity and peace of her kingdom. The pagoda was started construction in 528 but then stalled. It was not until 751, during the reign of Gim Daeseong , that the king decided to continue building to reassure his parents. By 774, the construction was completed and named Bulguksa Temple.

The pagoda was added during the reign of King Goryo and King Joseon. When the Japanese invaded, between 1592 and 1598, this wooden temple was burned down. In 1604, the temple was rebuilt and underwent 40 additional constructions, extending to 1805. However, it also suffered the same fate with many other monasteries, the temple was also destroyed quite a lot due to the main events variable and time. It is this historical issue that has attracted Japanese researchers and the interest of the current Korean Government.

Not only is Seokguram Cave, Bulguksa Temple is also considered a masterpiece of the golden age of Buddhist art in the Shilla dynasty. Sometimes, people see Bulguksa as part of Buddha land . Because this place has stored a lot of precious national heritage. The temple area has two main pagodas, this is a strange phenomenon, a worship of Duc Thich Ca and a worship of Amitabha.

Seokguram cave and Bulguksa temple are recognized by Unesco under the criteria (i), (iv).

Criterion (i): Seokguram Cave with a large Buddha statue surrounded by Bodhisattvas and disciples carved from white granite are masterpieces of Asian Buddhist art.

Criterion (ii): Seokguram cave with high-value art and Bulguksa temple with unique wooden architecture is a prominent example of Buddhist architecture under the Silla period in Korea. Besides Seokguram cave and Bulguksa temple are also expressions of religious beliefs in Korea that existed for many centuries until now.