UNESCO World Heritage · Gyeongju
Bulguksa Temple
Bulguksa — the “Temple of the Buddha Land” — is the most complete surviving expression of Silla Buddhist architecture, terraced into the wooded flank of Mount Tohamsan east of Gyeongju. Rebuilt in its present form from 751 AD, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 together with the Seokguram Grotto that sits on the ridge above it.
A temple built as a Buddha-land
Court records attribute the great rebuilding to Kim Daeseong, chief minister under King Gyeongdeok, who began work in 751 and whose project was completed after his death in 774. The design reads the terrain as scripture: stone platforms lift the temple above the everyday world, and paired staircase-bridges carry the visitor up into the courtyards as if crossing from the mortal shore to the Buddha-land. Much of the timber architecture burned during the Japanese invasions of 1592–98 and was reconstructed over later centuries, with a major scholarly restoration completed in the early 1970s — but the granite platforms, stairways and pagodas are Silla originals.
What to see
The approach is defined by two bridge-staircases: Cheongun-gyo and Baegun-gyo (the Blue Cloud and White Cloud Bridges) rising to the Jahamun gate, and the smaller Yeonhwagyo and Chilbogyo (Lotus Flower and Seven Treasures Bridges). The main courtyard is anchored by two contrasting pagodas that face each other across it — the plain, perfectly proportioned Seokgatap and the elaborately tiered Dabotap. Inside the halls sit two gilt-bronze Buddhas cast in the Silla golden age. When Seokgatap was dismantled for repair in 1966, a printed Great Dharani Sutra was found sealed inside it — among the oldest surviving woodblock-printed texts in the world.
National Treasures at Bulguksa
| Object | Designation |
|---|---|
| Dabotap Pagoda The ornate “Many Treasures” pagoda; its silhouette appears on the Korean 10-won coin. | No. 20 |
| Seokgatap Pagoda The austere three-storey pagoda that yielded the early woodblock-printed Dharani sutra. | No. 21 |
| Yeonhwagyo & Chilbogyo Bridges The lower pair of staircase-bridges into the temple precinct. | No. 22 |
| Cheongun-gyo & Baegun-gyo Bridges The “Cloud” bridge-stairs rising to the Jahamun gate. | No. 23 |
| Gilt-bronze Vairocana Buddha A seated cosmic Buddha in the temple’s Birojeon hall. | No. 26 |
| Gilt-bronze Amitabha Buddha A seated Buddha of the Western Paradise in the Geungnakjeon hall. | No. 27 |
Korean National Treasure designations. Opening hours and admission change seasonally — confirm with the site before you travel.
Part of the Gyeongju Silla Heritage guide
Pillar guide
The Living Museums of Gyeongju
The full overview of Silla-era Gyeongju.
Also in this guide
The Seokguram Grotto
Visiting the Seokguram Grotto above Gyeongju: the granite dome, the seated Buddha facing the East Sea, and its UNESCO-listed Silla statuary.
Also in this guide
Gyeongju National Museum
A guide to the Gyeongju National Museum: Silla gold crowns, the Emille Bell, and the finds from the royal tombs and Wolji Pond of the old capital.
Continue exploring
Country guide
Museums in South Korea
Every museum we cover across the country, from Seoul to the south coast.
Museum type
World Heritage & Culture
Heritage and ethnographic collections and how they present the past.
Frequently asked questions
When was Bulguksa Temple built?
The temple was rebuilt in its present monumental form beginning in 751 AD under the minister Kim Daeseong, with work completed around 774. Its wooden buildings were burned during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s and reconstructed later; the stone terraces, bridges and pagodas are original Silla work.
How is Bulguksa related to the Seokguram Grotto?
The two were conceived together and are inscribed as a single UNESCO World Heritage property (1995). The Seokguram Grotto sits higher up Mount Tohamsan and is reached from Bulguksa by road or a walking trail.
Is Bulguksa still an active temple?
Yes. Alongside its heritage status, Bulguksa remains a working temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, so visitors share the grounds with monks and worshippers.