Gyeongju Historic Areas

Gyeongju Historic Areas

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Royal tumuli at Gyeongju
Location	Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iii)
Reference	976
Inscription	2000 (24th Session)
Area	2,880 ha (7,100 acres)
Buffer zone	350 ha (860 acres)
Coordinates	35°47′20″N 129°13′36″E
Location of Gyeongju Historic Areas in South Korea

Korean name
Hangul	경주 역사유적 지구
Hanja	慶州 歷史遺蹟 地區
Revised Romanization	Gyeongju Yeoksayujeok jigu
McCune–Reischauer	Kyŏngju Yŏksayujŏk chigu

The Gyeongju Historic Areas of South Korea were designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. The protected areas encompass the ruins of temples and palaces, outdoor pagodas and statuary, and other cultural artifacts left by the Silla Kingdom. The historic areas are sometimes known as one of the largest outdoor museums in the world.

Organization of the areas

Mount Namsan Belt

The ruins of Bunhwangsa Pagoda, the 30th national treasure of Korea, which is at Bunhwangsa Temple.

The Mount Namsan belt is anchored by Mount Namsan, a mountain that was held sacred by the Silla people. Both Buddhist artifacts and artifacts related to Shamanism that predate the introduction of Buddhism to Korea have been found at this site. Buddhist artifacts include the ruins of 122 temples, 53 stone statues, 64 stone pagodas, and sixteen stone lanterns. Other notable sites include the Namsan Mountain Fortress (built in 591 CE), the Poseokjeong Pavilion site (famous for its abalone-shaped watercourse), and the Seochulji Pond. Mount Namsan is famous for the various Buddhist images carved into the rocks and also show the progression and maturation of Silla sculpture during the Unified Silla period. The most famous example of these reliefs is the Buddha Rock. This bas-relief is located in the Tapgol Valley and consists of three walls decorated with the images of Buddha and his disciples. Tumuli of the Silla kings dating from the 2nd century until the 10th century are also found at this belt.

The Wolseong Belt

Anapji Pond

The main attractions of this portion of the Gyeongju Historic Areas are the ruins of Banwolseong (Half-moon Palace/Fortress), the Gyerim forest, the ruins and reconstructions of the pavilions at the artificial Anapji Pond, the ruins of the Imhaejeon Palace, and the famous Cheomseongdae Observatory.

The Tumuli Park Belt

This belt consists of three groups of royal tombs. Most of the tumuli are shaped like domes or mounds of earth. However, some are shaped like gourds or half-moons. Excavated tombs reveal wooden coffins covered with gravel and rich grave goods of gold, glass, and quality ceramics. A famous example of a tomb in this park is the Heavenly Horse Tomb which contained a mural painting on birch bark saddle flap of a winged horse.

The Hwangnyongsa Belt

This cluster of historic remains is centered around the ruins of Hwangnyongsa Temple and Bunhwangsa Temple. According to the excavated foundation stones, Hwangnyongsa was the largest temple ever built in Korea and covered 72,500 m². The Bunhwagsa Temple exists today at a fraction of its size. In the past, it was one of the most important Buddhist temples. A stone pagoda made from brick-like stones is a popular ruin. It is believed to have had seven or nine stories but only three remain today.

The Sanseong Belt

This portion of the property includes the ruins of the Myeonghwal mountain fortress (Myeonghwal Sanseong) situated on Mount Myeonghwal at Bomun Lake about 6 kilometres east of the downtown of Gyeongju.

See also

• Gyeongju National Park
• Tourism in Gyeongju
• Silla

References

External links

• UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Korean National Heritage Online
• Cultural Heritage
• Oriental Architecture