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 Gyeongju City and its surroundings have inherited traces of the glory that
flowered and then withered in the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. - A.D.) 935.
Both downtown and suburban areas contain many royal burial mounds and Buddhist
remains, which preserve the arts and culture of the Silla Dynasty.
The
Gyeongju Historic Areas where Mt. Namsan and many cultural properties are
located contain a remarkable concentration of outstanding examples of Korean
Buddhist art, in the form of sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, and the remains of
temples and palaces, which were all built between the 7th and the 10th
centuries.
Mt. Namsan Belt (Historic site No. 311)
Before the arrival
of Buddhism in the early part of the Silla period, Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju City
was worshiped as one of five sacred mountains. With the spread of Buddhism, it
became the representation of Sumeru, the heavenly mountain of Land Buddhism.
Weolseong Belt
The ruins of Weolseong, the Half-Moon
Palace, as well as numerous temples and fortress sites can all be seen here. In
addition, Hwangnyongsa, the Temple of the Yellow Dragon, royal tombs, ancient
wells and bridges can also be viewed here. The serene woods of Gyerim tell us
the intriguing legends of the progenitor of the Gyeongju Kim clan, the family
that reigned during most of the Silla kingdom. An ancient astronomical
observatory called Cheomseongdae, which is one of the most exquisite examples of
its type in Asia, is also located here.
Hwangnyongsa Belt
The
temples of Hwangnyongsa and Bunhwangsa offer glimpses into the magnificence of
Korea's ancient temples.
Sanseong (Fortress)
Belt
Myeonghwal Mountain Fortress was built in the Fourth Century with
advanced construction technologies that were later passed on to Japan.
Tumuli Park
Belt
Splendid royal graves from the Silla Kingdom, and a range of
excavated historical relics, including gold crowns and paintings, all display
the essence of Silla culture.
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