Tomb of King Wongseong

In eastern Gyeongju statues of Muninseok scholars, Muninseok warriors, stone lions and a stone pillar stood at each side of the entrance to the tomb of King Wongseong. These statues were intended to mark the border between this world and the next. Surprisingly, the scholar and warrior statues were realistic. As I passed them, I felt as if their eyes followed me.

Three-storey pagodas

After unifying the three kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula in the latter half of the 600s AD, King Munmu-wang, the 30^thruler of Silla began construction on Gameusaji temple in the hope of repelling Japanese invasions. Because he died before its completion, his son, King Sinmun completed the project in 682 AD.

Remains of Donggung Palace

Across the road from Gyeongju’s Wolseong Palace excavation site was Donggung Palace. Twenty-six architectural remains were identified where the royal families of the Silla Dynasty once lived.

Wolseong palace site

This site was located at Gyeongju’s highest point. The Namcheon River formed a natural barrier on one side and wide ditches were dug to the north, east and west to prevent invasion.

The tomb of General Kim Yu-sin

General Kim Yu-sin lived from 595-673 and his tomb was located across Mucheon Stream in one of the regions of Gyeongju National Park. Through Heungmumun gate, a stone path led to the site.

Seokguram Grotto

Seokguram Grotto was a small site and different from others I’d visited. The attraction was an 8^thcentury granite Buddha housed in the side of the cliff that was enclosed within a building. This large Buddha was carved during the Silla dynasty.

Cheonmachong

With the establishment of the Kim family as hereditary monarchs, slowly the Silla Dynasty expanded and flourished for under three hundred years. I headed north from Busan to Gyeongju to find out more about the Silla kings.

Seoul’s Bongeunsa Temple

While people prayed before a Buddha statue in Bongeunsa Temple, I tiptoed around until I came across lanterns. Devotees pinned a prayer to the bottom of  lanterns that swayed in the breeze in the hope their prayer would be fulfilled.