Bulguksa Temple

Bulguksa Temple: Bulguksa Temple was first listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Seokgulam, Seoul Jongmyo Shrine, and Hapcheon Haeinsa Temple in 1995. In Korea, there may be some people who have never come to Gyeongju, but have visited Bulguksa and Seokguram. Both heritage sites are prime examples of the outstanding cultural heritage of both Gyeongju and Korea. One can appreciate people’s devotion to Buddhism in their use of the best building techniques and substantial resources that went into building the Bulguksa Temple. The Buddhist doctrine melds together with temple building to form an ideal arrangement.

Seokguram

Seokguram Grotto: Along with Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto was one of Korea's first UNESCO World Heritage sites listed in 1995. One particular tale featuring Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto told in Samguk Yusa (History of the Three Kingdoms) describes a man called Kim Dae-sung who was reincarnated to build Seokbulsa (Seokguram Grotto) Temple for his parents in his previous life and for his parents in his present life. Seokguram Grotto is a cave Temple. It has a free-hanging dome that uses stone nails horizontally driven in between the stones to keep it balanced and stable. Seokguram Grotto was not the first cave temple in Korea. But most of them used small natural caves or carved rocks to form shrines. Seokguram Grotto, however, was designed and built using intricate geometry and architectural engineering unlike any other of its kind in Korea.