Anderson - Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple by Tilly Anderson

Map of Gyeongju

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-04-28 14:22:28 UTC

map of South Korea

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-04-28 14:24:12 UTC

timeline

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-04-28 14:42:01 UTC

[Snapshot #1] Traditional Korean Music and Dance from the Silla Period

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-04-28 14:43:43 UTC

Dances before the Silla unification of the Korean peninsula mostly consisted of court dances accompanied by music from the gayageum, a 12-string zither, and often a singing accompaniment (Yi and Cho 54). Post-unification, though, diverse styles of dance and music flourished like the Hwangchanngnang, a sword dance, the Chaoyongmu, a mask dance to chase away evil spirits, the Five Amusements, an acrobatic performance borrowed from China, and the Dance of Non-Hindrance (created by the famous Silla monk Wonhyo Daesa), which is a major reason that even young children learned Buddhist teachings (Yi and Cho 56-62)

work cited page

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-04-28 14:49:28 UTC

[Snapshot #3] Three Kingdoms Period to the Greater Silla Architecture

2022-05-02 13:53:40 UTC

Only three stone Pagodas of the Three Kingdoms Period still exist, as the wooden structures of the time have since been completely destroyed. Because of wood's characteristic difficult maintenance and large price tag, a shift in building material occured. The use of stone in architecture first arose in Paekche. Primarily, Paekche architects tried to remain as faithful as possible to the original wooden pagodas, but later pagodas became smaller, details much more simplified, and created stable and slender looks which provide the basis that Silla architectural style(Kim).

Outstanding Universal Value

2022-05-02 13:56:21 UTC

The Seokguram Grotto is held in the regard as a masterpiece of East Asian Buddhist Art and a lasting imprint of the Silla Kingdom; because of not only its large number of Buddhist statues but also innovative construction techniques. The Grotto along with the Bulguksa Temple in close quarters with its well preserved ornate wooden architecture and stone terraces, is an example of Buddhist religious architecture that prospered in Gyeongju, capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, and materialized the expression of Buddhist belief ("Seokguram Grotto").

Image by Geoff Steven on UNESCO

Current Status

2022-05-02 13:56:33 UTC

The Grotto has been designated as a National Treasure and the temple is protected as a Historic Site under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Therefore, any alterations to the site or structure require authorization, and new constructions within the boundaries of Gyeongju National Park are closely monitored and restricted.

Any construction within a 500-meter area extending beyond the boundary of the site is under the Historic Cultural Environment Protection Area, and construction must be pre-approved.

The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) establishes and enforces national policies for the protection of the site, protection of the buffer area surrounding it, and overseeing funding resources for conservation.

Gyeongju City, in collaboration with the Korea National Park Service, is responsible for overseeing the overall management and conservation of the Grotto and Temple. In addition to professional monitoring and routine checks, a CCTV system is installed at various points in the Temple complex ("Seokguram Grotto").

Image by David Gandreau on UNESCO

The Soekguram Grotto

2022-05-02 13:57:02 UTC

The Soekguram Grotto is most famous for housing a stone Buddha, and is well known for its architecture, a round ceiling structure, as well. Believed to have been made in the late 8th century, the three-story stone pagoda was built on the summit of Tohamsan mountain. The intricately and realistically crafted sculptures surrounding the Grotto have earned it its place as a masterpiece of Far Eastern Buddhist art ("National Parks", "Seokguram Grotto").

The Grotto is an artificial grotto made of granite that includes an antechamber, a corridor, and the main rotunda. It enshrines a Sakyamuni Buddha statue looking out to sea, his left hand in the mudra of concentration, and his right hand in the earth-touching mudra positions. The domed ceiling of the rotunda uses over 360 stone slabs ("Seokguram Grotto").

Image by De Agostini Picture Library in 1995

Gyeongju National Park

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-05-03 19:06:47 UTC

Gyeongju is the only national historic park in South Korea. The park is split into 8 districts that include the Bulguksa Temple district, Tohamsan Mountain, which has the Seokguram Grotto, and Namsan Mountain (coined the "Outdoor Museum of Buddhism"). Gyeongju houses protected artifacts from the Silla dynasty; and, in 1979, was listed by UNESCO as one of the top 10 most important historic sites in the world. Since 2008, the park has been managed by the Korea National Park Service ("National Parks").

The Temple of Bulguksa

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-05-03 19:19:18 UTC

The temple is located in the former capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom; it is one of the largest scale and grandest beauty of Buddhist temples in Korea. Bulguksa appears to emerge naturally (organically) from the rocky terrain of Mt. Tohamsan; and it was built during the reign of King Gyeongdeok in (modern-day) Gyeongju city. This architectural detail is because the temple was built in following ancient principles of architecture. These principles are along the lines of building in a way to not be obtrusive but be in harmony with the surrounding land. Bulguksa is both made of a single type of stone and yet deeply intricate in details such as intentional lighting changes with the shifting seasons (Guide to Korean 61, "National Parks").

The temple complex comprises of a series of wooden buildings on raised stone terraces. The complex is divided into three areas, the Vairocana Buddha Hall, the Hall of Great Enlightenment, and the Hall of Supreme Bliss; designed to symbolize the land of Buddha. The Pagoda of Sakyamuni and the Pagoda of Bountiful Treasures included in the complex show great skill in the mastery of mason workers in the Silla ("Seokguram Grotto").

[Snapshot #2] Silla Golden Age Brings Artistic and Buddhist Prosperity

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-05-03 19:56:43 UTC

The golden age of ancient Korean art falls under the time of the Unified Silla or the Great Silla period of 668 to 935. Great Buddhist Temples were built in quick succession all across the Kyŏngsang province region. Journeying to Tang China, Korean monks and scholars partook in and spread its cosmopolitan culture. This led to the capital city of Kyyonju being modeled after the Tang capital of Chang'an (broad, straight avenues formatted in a rectangular grid pattern). From here on, southern Korea, especially the southeast, became the center of Korean artistic growth and life (paired with Northern Korea fading from major artistic relevance).

This unified period constructed more stone Buddhist images and pagodas than any other Korean period. Ornamental design aspects, like roof tiles with designs, were of high quality. Grand temple bells were fashioned, shrarira boxes (containing sacred washed of the Shakyamuni Buddha), and Buddhist figures were made by bronze smiths. Later towards the end of the period, iron replaced bronze in widespread supply (Kim).

wallpaper source

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-05-05 02:19:18 UTC

Gyeongju National Park

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-05-05 02:24:09 UTC

A Reflection After Completing the Project

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-05-05 14:22:10 UTC

The maintenance of a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a new topic for me to learn about; however, the many hands, laws, and monitoring that go into the upkeep of the Grotto and the Temple is more than I would ever know by visiting. They are kept in (as much as possible) historically precise conditions, and the Buddhist culture of the Silla period is immortal as long as these sites still stand. The art, architecture, and history behind the Seokguram Grotto and the Bulguksa Temple offer a door into the greater South East Asian story of religion and architecture. My study of them has opened my eyes to religious architecture's impact and significance even centuries after their original construction.

Threats to the Sites

tilly_anderson_25 — 2022-05-05 16:44:53 UTC

All key components of the Temple complex and the Grotto are located within the boundaries of the properties; so problems that arise are observed and addressed. The most serious threats facing Seokguram Grotto are naturally occurring moisture and condensation; other weather damages to the stone sculptures are threats as well.

After a concrete dome was added to the Grotto between 1913 and 1915 led to significantly negative effects of moisture build-up. A second dome was added to the existing one in the 1960s to try and prevent further mildew and climatic damage, along with the interior of the Grotto being protectively sealed with glass against the many visitors and temporal changes. While carefully monitored and managed, alleviation efforts are still necessary.

The foremost threats to the Bulguksa Temple are acid rain, pollution, "salty" fogs rolling from the East Sea, and moss on the outdoor surfaces. These threats are monitored and studied ("Seokguram Grotto").