Stupa of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

This stupa is preserved in a protective shelter behind the lecture hall of Bulguksa Temple. Some hold that the 'Gwanghak Budo' mentioned in the Bulguksa Sajeokgi, a record of the temple's history, refers to this very stupa, but at present it is not clear whether it enshrines the relics of a Buddha or of a monk. In outward appearance the stupa resembles a stone lantern: at its centre is the body, which enshrines the relics, with a foundation serving as its base below and a crowning ornament above. The foundation consists of semicircular stones carved with lotus petals placed above and below, connected by a drum-shaped pillar between them; the cloud patterns carved on this pillar convey a strong sense of vitality. The body of the stupa is cylindrical, bulging in the middle, with pillar shapes decorated with flowers carved at four points around it. On the four sides divided by these pillars, niches, spaces for enshrining Buddha images, are hollowed inward, within which images of Buddhas and bodhisattvas are carved in relief. The roof stone is twelve-sided at the eaves, narrowing to six sides toward the top. Its slope is gentle, and only part of the crowning ornament at the top survives. Departing from the usual octagonal ground plan, this stupa displays a new form; its ornate design and delicate carving suggest that it is a work of the early Goryeo period, carrying on the style of Unified Silla. In 1905 it was illegally taken out of the country by the Japanese to Ueno Park in Tokyo, and was returned in 1933 — an episode that speaks eloquently of the painful history our cultural heritage suffered during the Japanese colonial period.

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

Treasure · 보물