Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto

The construction of Bulguksa Temple began in 751, under the auspices of the Silla Chief Minister, Gim Daeseong (701-774), and was completed in 774. The layout of the temple is a symbolic representation of the Buddha Pure Land. In particular, the interlaced stone structures give the temple a sense of majesty, elegance and exquisite proportions. It thus represents the quintessence of Korean architecture.

Integrating traditional styles, the architects created a new form that became the standard for temple construction. Constructed around the same time, Seokguram is a man-made cave carved from white granite using special sculpting techniques. The main figure in the grotto is a seated Buddha. On the walls surrounding him are 38 other Bodhisattvas, disciples, Dharma-protectors and the Four Heavenly Kings.

This stone grotto is one of Korea's greatest masterpieces. It exquisitely combines Silla's knowledge of architecture, math, geometry, physics, religion and art into an organic whole. In particular, the central Buddha figure embodies a sense of the profound and sublime. This Buddha embodies a rarefied aesthetic which is, indeed, rare.