The construction of Bulguksa Temple began in 751, under the auspices of the
Silla Chief Minister, Kim Dae-seong (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. Seokguram definitely stands as the culminations of Buddhist aesthetics, geometry, and advanced science formed in the golden age of Buddhist art in Korea.