As
explained at the “Three Old Dynasty Division with Capital”, Korea was divided
by three major dynasties at old times, first Goguryeo Dynasty situated at North
with capital in Pyeongyang and very wide territory covering present China area,
second Baekje Dynasty situated at South West with capital as Buyeo and third
Shilla situated at South East with capital as Kyeongju. I would like to introduce
best 8 historical places in Shilla Dynasty today. I have summarized outline of
each one for the brief introduction. If you want to know more details of each
one, please see http://guide.gyeongju.go.kr/deploy/eng/enjoy/02/index.html
There
are several ways going there by airplane or by express bus or by normal train
or by super high speed train (KTX). I personally suggest you would better use
KTX with following information. You could directly take KTX at Incheon
International Airport and get off at Shin Kyeongju Station taking 2 hour 10
minutes. Please see more details at http://www.letskorail.com/ebizbf/EbizbfForeign_pr16100.do?gubun=1.
If you like to take a look all these 10 places, you would reserve two night and
three days trip including transportation.
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The construction of Bulguksa Temple was begun by Gim
Daeseong in 751 A.D., during the reign of King Gyeongdeok, and was completed in
774 A.D during the reign of King Hyegong. Its construction was begun and
completed parallel with that of Seokguram.
Nestled in the western foothills of Mt. Tohamsan, Bulguksa
Temple is a monumental work of art recognized throughout the world for its
excellence. It depicts profound Buddhist principles and the spirit of artistic
genius in a unique way. As the longed-for Buddhist land and ideal world of
Silla imagination brought to earth, Bulguksa Temple is a realization of the
earthly Saha World as expressed by Sakyamuni Buddha in the Lotus Sutra,
Buddha’s Land of Bliss from the Amitabha (Infinite Life) Sutra, and the Lotus
Land of Vairocana from the Avatamska (Flower Garland) Sutra.
2. Gyeongju Seokguram Grotto
The construction of Seokguram Grotto was begun in 751 A.D.
by Gim Daeseong, then prime minister under the reign of King Gyeongdeok of
Silla. It was completed in 774 A.D. during the reign of King Hyegong. At the
time it was completed, it was called Seokbulsa, meaning “Stone Buddha Temple.”
Seokguram Grotto, near the summit of Mt. Tohamsan, is a
man-made cave that was assembled from white granite. Inside of Seokguram Grotto
are 39 carved divinities, including Bodhisattvas, disciples, heavenly guards,
and heavenly kings, all formed around a central principal figure of the Buddha.
The rectangular antechamber of the Grotto is connected to the main rotunda by a
corridor. The domed ceiling of the main chamber is exquisitely made from over
360 pieces of flat stone. The superb architectural technique employed here is
unprecedented in the world in its excellence. Statues of a total of eight
heavenly guards stand on either side of the antechamber that serves as the
entrance to the Grotto. On each side of the entrance to the corridor are
bas-relief carvings of Deva kings, while the narrow corridor is decorated with
the Four Heavenly Kings carved in pairs.
3. Gyeongju Donggung and Wolji
(Imhaejeonji, Anapji)
In the town of Gyeongju there are more palaces and royal
Silla heritage sites. Cheomseongdae, Gyerim, Wolseong and Anapji are directly
connected to the palaces of Silla. Nodongdong, Noseodong, Gobungun,
Daereungwon,
Hwangori in Wangli Gobungun are the tombs of the royal
family and nobility. Hwangryeongsateo and Bunhwangsa are large temples of
Silla. It is great to just walk or cycle around town to see the elegance and
majesty of Silla.
The lotus fields around Anapji are beautiful like a
painting and the canola blossoms around Cheomseongdae make a spectacular
backdrop. The beautiful lighting at night makes it perfect for nighttime sightseeing
and the evening performances at Anapji will make for a unique experience.
4. Gyeongju
Cheomseongdae(Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju)
Opposite
Daereungwon along a footpath you can see Cheomseongdae in the shape of a
traditional liquor jar.
Not
quite 10 meters tall, it used to be the observatory of Silla and its shape is a
harmony of straight and curved lines, looking somewhat like a bottle, with
stones laid on the top in the shape of a hash symbol. Even though it is quite
small, it is amazing that it has been standing for over 1,000 years in the
palace grounds. The background of Cheomseongdae is one of agriculture where the
movements of the moon, sun and stars dictated the cycle of sowing and reaping.
Also, in ancient societies, astrology was deeply connected to the governing of
people and the rise and fall of kingdoms.
In
fact the south face of Cheomseongdae looks toward the Great Bear constellation,
which was used, in conjunction with the relative positions of other
constellations, to govern affairs of state. The name of the street around the
south face is Bidugil (First Street).
It
was built during the reign of Queen Seondeok and is the oldest observatory in
Asia, showing the advanced level of science for that time.
5. Gyeonju Yangdong Folk
Village
Yangdong
Village is a Korean folk village designated as Important Folk Material No. 189,
located along the Hyeongsan River 20 km northeast of Gyeongju, the city which
served as the capital during the millennium-long Silla Kingdom.
Since
the early Joseon dynasty, when the village was first inhabited, its two
principle clans have been the Wolseong Son clan and the Yeogang Yi family.
With
historic old structures representative of the Joseon era, Yangdong Village is a
well-preserved place exemplifying folk traditions that have been carried on
since the Joseon dynasty. Some of the notable structures include houses of
yangban aristocracy, such as Seobaekdang House and Mucheomdang House (the head
family dwellings of the Wolseong Son clan and Yeogang Yi family, respectively),
as well as Gwan-gajeong House and Hyangdan House. There are also chogajip,
traditional homes with rice straw-thatched roofs where servants and tenant
farmers used to live, pavilions like Yi Hyangjeong House and Simsujeong
Pavilion, and examples of seodang, the private village schools of the Goryeo
and Joseon eras, like Ganghakdang
6. Gyeongju Daereungwon Tumuli
Park
In
Daereungwon Tumuli Park Belt are located tombs and
burial
places of high personages including kings, queens, and nobility.
Based
on its distinct areas, it is divided into the Tumuli in Hwangnam-ri,
Tumuli
in Nodong-ri, and Tumuli in Noseo-ri.
When
the tombs were excavated, rare and precious artifacts were
discovered,
including the Geumgwan Gold Crown, the CheonmadoHeavenly
Horse painting, glass drinking vessels, and a varietyof
earthenware, displaying the essence of Silla culture as well as the era’sway of
life.
7. Gyeongju Bulguksa Samcheungseoktap
(Three storied stone pagoda at Bulguksa Temple) Calling as Seokgatap Pagoda (National
treasure no. 21)The Seokgatap Pagoda(the
Three-story Stone Pagoda) of Bulguksa Temple and Dabotap Pagoda (National
Treasure No. 20) stand to the west and east of the frontal area of the temple’s
Daeungjeon Hall, respectively. The Three-story Stone Pagoda is also called
Seokgatap (“Sakyamuni Buddha Pagoda”). The two pagodas were built at the same
site to reflect the content of the Saddharmapundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra)
in which the Dabo Buddha (“past Buddha”) stands beside Sakyamuni (“present
Buddha”) to prove that his Buddhist sermon is right. The three-story body of
this stone pagoda stands on a two-story platform, displaying the traditional
style seen in the East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas at the Gameunsa
Temple Site, Gyeongju (National Treasure No. 112) and the Three-story Stone
Pagoda at the Goseonsa Temple Site, Gyeongju (National Treasure No. 38).
8. Gyeongju Gyerim .
Gyeongju
Gyerim is where the birth myth of Kim Al Ji, the first ancestor of the Gyeongju
Kim family, who ruled Silla for a thousand years.
King
Talhae, in the fourth year of his reign, heard a hen calling and sent one of
his subjects to Shirim. At Shrim there was a golden box hanging in a tree and a
white hen was crying. In the box was a smart looking boy who grew up to be very
intelligent, so King Talhae name him Al Ji and gave him the family name of Kim,
because he came from a golden box. Maybe because of this myth, Gyerim, which is
located between Cheomseongdae and Wolseong, seems more mysterious. Later King
Talhae named Kim Al Ji his heir, but he didn't want to be king. However, seven
generations later, King Michu became the first King of Silla from the Kim
family. The name of Shirim was changed to Gyerim, after that.
When
you walk inside Gyerim there is a very old tree whose trunk is almost gone but
the branches remain alive. There is also the tombstone on which is engraved the
birth myth of Kim Al Ji, erected by King Sunjom of the Choseon Dynasty. There
are many old trees creating a unique forest.
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