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Chungcheongbuk-do
I
Chungcheongnam-do
I
Gangwon-do
I
Gyeonggi-do |
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Gyeongsangbuk-do I
Gyeongsangnam-do I
Jeollabuk-do I
Jeollanam-do I
Jeju-do |
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 The
Seokguram
Grotto
is a
hermitage
and
part
of
the
Bulguksa
temple
complex.
It
lies
four
kilometers
east
of
the
temple
on
Mt.
Tohamsan,
in
Gyeongju,
South
Korea.
The
grotto
overlooks
the
Sea
of
Japan
(East
Sea)
and
rests
750
meters
above
sea
level.
In
1962,
it
was
designated
the
24th
national
treasure
of
Korea.
In
1995,
Seokguram
was
added
to
the
UNESCO
World
Heritage
List
together
with
the
Bulguksa
Temple.
It
exemplifies
some
of
the
best
Buddhist
sculptures
in
the
world. |
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It
is
said
to
have
been
built
by
Gim
Daeseong
and
originally
called
Seokbulsa
(Stone
Buddha
Temple).
Construction
began
in
742
when
Gim
Daeseong
resigned
his
position
in
the
king's
court
or
in
751,
the
10th
year
of
the
reign
of
King
Gyeongdeok
of
Silla.
This
time
period
was
the
cultural
peak
of
Unified
Silla.
The
grotto
was
completed
by
the
Silla
court
in
774,
shortly
after
Gim's
death.
An
old
legend
stated
that
Gim
was
reincarnated
for
his
filial
acts
in
his
previous
life.
The
legend
relates
that
the
Bulguksa
Temple
was
dedicated
to
Gim’s
parents
in
his
present
life
while
the
Seokguram
Grotto
was
dedicated
to
Gim's
parents
from
a
previous
life. |
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It
is
now
one
of
the
best
known
cultural
destinations
in
South
Korea.
A
viewing
of
the
sunrise
over
the
sea
is
especially
popular. |
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Bulguksa
is a
Buddhist
temple
in
the
North
Gyeongsang
province
in
South
Korea.
It
is
home
to
seven
National
treasures
of
South
Korea,
including
Dabotap
and
Seokgatap
stone
pagodas,
Cheongun-gyo
(Blue
Cloud
Bridge),
and
two
gilt-bronze
statues
of
Buddha.
The
temple
is
classified
as
Historic
and
Scenic
Site
No.
1 by
the
South
Korean
government.
In
1995,
Bulguksa
was
added
to
the
UNESCO
World
Heritage
List
together
with
the
Seokguram
Grotto,
which
lies
four
kilometers
to
the
east. |
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The
temple
is
considered
as a
masterpiece
of
the
golden
age
of
Buddhist
art
in
the
Silla
kingdom.
It
is
currently
the
head
temple
of
the
11th
district
of
the
Jogye
Order
of
Korean
Buddhism. |
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