Cheongungyo and Baegungyo Bridges of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

Two stairways climb to Bulguksa's halls of worship: Cheongungyo and Baegungyo on the east, Yeonhwagyo and Chilbogyo on the west. Cheongungyo and Baegungyo lead to Jahamun, the gate before Daeungjeon, and carry a meaning: below the bridge is the world of ordinary people, above it the world of the Buddha, and the stairs join the two. Thirty-four steps in all — Cheongungyo's sixteen above, Baegungyo's eighteen below. Cheongungyo, the blue cloud bridge, is likened to a man in the green of his youth and Baegungyo, the white cloud bridge, to an old man with white hair, so that the climb stands for a life. The stairs are cut with great precision in the form of a bridge, and the rainbow arch beneath softens what the straight lines would otherwise make severe. There was once a pond below the stone terrace these stand on, and the channel that let the water fall is still there to the left of the steps. The water is said to have broken into spray like a waterfall and raised a rainbow, which gives some idea of how beautiful the old temple must have been. They are thought to date from 751, and are the only bridge of their time to survive complete. The arch beneath them is also the starting point of the half-round rainbow arches found in Korean stone bridges and city gates afterwards, which makes them an important source.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

09:00-18:00 (Exit time 19:00) * No pets allowed

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Free

Parking

Available

Information

+82-54-746-9913

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

National Treasure · 국보