Golgulsa Temple

The millennium-old capital of Silla,GyeongjuThe most representative Buddhist ruins inNamsan, TohamsanBulguksa TempleとSeokguram GrottoAmong them are Golgulsa Temple, Korea's only rock-cut temple, located at the foot of Mt. Hamwolsan, about 20 kilometers from the center of Gyeongju towards the east coast.

Golgulsa Temple was founded in the 2.2th century when Silla Buddhism flourished by the Indian saint Gwang Yuhwasang and his entourage, who followed the style of temples in their own country. It is a cave temple with a unique layout, with a rock-carved Tathagata Buddha (Treasure No. 12), measuring XNUMXm in height and XNUMXm in width, carved into relief on the top of the easy-to-dig limestone, and XNUMX caves housing Buddhist statues.

Golgulsa Temple was founded about 751 years before Bulguksa Temple, which was rebuilt in 200. Most of the 12 Buddhist halls in its 12 stone caves have collapsed or been destroyed in war, so only the Gwaneum Buddhist Hall with its thick tiled roof at the front of the cave remains, telling of the rise and fall of Silla Buddhism.

Golgulsa Temple

Carved into a limestone cliff, the temple was named after its skeletal appearance. It is also the headquarters of Zen martial arts, a secret martial art that has been passed down among monks since the Silla period as a martial art to protect the nation. Since 1992, it has been running temple stay programs that allow visitors to experience Korean Buddhist culture based on Zen martial arts.