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All South Korea Gyeongju Bunhwangsa

Bunhwangsa

This grand temple complex from the Old Silla era of Korea is home to a stone pagoda that was build in the 7th century.

Gyeongju, South Korea

Added By
katielou106
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Bunhwangsa   xiquinhosilva / CC BY 2.0
Bunhwangsa   xiquinhosilva / CC BY 2.0
Each side of the pagoda has what may have once been doors into the interior of the pagoda.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Two figures guard each doorway and are known as Geumgan-yeoksa   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Although once hollow, the collapsed stories of the pagoda have filled the center of pagoda with debris   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Each corner of the one-step platform upon which the pagoda rests holds a guardian lion statue   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Bunhwangsa is a temple complex that dates from the Silla Kingdom, with a name that translates as "Fragrant Imperial Temple." 

The most notable ruin at the temple is the pagoda called Bunhwangsa Seoktap (Stone Pagoda of Bunhwangsa). Records show that Bunhwangsa Seoktap was built in 634 at the request of Queen Seondeok, is the oldest dated pagoda from the Silla Kingdom. At the height of its popularity, the temple complex covered several acres and was considered one of the four main temples of the Silla Kingdom. It was used by the state to ask the Buddha to bless the kingdom.

The pagoda's structure is based on examples from the Tang Dynasty of China. Silla architects changed the design slightly compared to the Tang versions, with Bunhwangsa Seoktap using black andesite stones which were cut like bricks to build the pagoda. Each level of the pagoda gets progressively smaller in size, and each level's roof was constructed by arranging the stones like a staircase. Though only three levels of the pagoda remain today,  records show that the original structure stood nine stories tall.

Unfortunately, Bunhwangsa was destroyed by invading armies on three occasions. First in 1238 at the hands of the invading Mongols, then in 1592 by the Japanese during the first wave of the Imjin War, and then a third time in 1597, during the second wave of the Imjin War.  

Once hollow, the remains of the pagoda are now filled with rubble from the collapsed upper levels and other accumulated rubbish. An excavation and partial restoration of the pagoda, undertaken in 1915 by the Japanese, uncovered a sarira, or relic box, holding the cremated remains of a priest hidden between the second and third levels. Precious artifacts such as gold, stone ornaments, coins, scissors, and a needle were also found in the pagoda. It was thought that these objects indicate that a woman of royal blood, perhaps even Queen Seondeok herself, had once owned them. The pagoda is National Treasure of Korea No. 30 and was designated as such on December 20, 1962.

Related Tags

Buddhism History & Culture Temples Pagodas

Know Before You Go

To get to Bunhwangsa Temple from Gyeongju National Museum you’ll just need to make your way down a country road.

From Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal you can catch Bus #10, Bus #11, Bus #15, Bus #17, Bus #18 or Bus #277

Community Contributors

Added By

katielou106

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

October 3, 2022

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Bunhwangsa
Gyeongju, 780-110
South Korea
35.840572, 129.233632

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