Rock-carved Buddhas in Tapgok Valley of Namsan Mountain, Gyeongju

This collection of 34 Buddhist rock carvings is located on a large boulder on the northwestern slope of Namsan Mountain. The carvings, which depict buddhas, bodhisattvas, heavenly beings,ritual offerings, lions, and pagodas, are placed harmoniously across all four sides of the boulder, which measures 10 m in height and 30 m in circumference. Although it is uncertain due Rock-carved Buddhas in Tapgok Valley of Nam to the diversity of carving techniques, the stylistic features of the carvings suggest they date to the 7th century.

On the northern side are a nine-story and seven-story wooden pagoda with a buddha in-between. Below each pagoda is a lion. On the eastern side is a buddha surrounded by bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, monks, and guardian deities. On the southern side is a Buddhist triad inside a niche shrine, next to which is a bodhisattva standing independently. On the other side of the bodhisattva are the upper bodies of the Buddha's perfected disciples, known as arhats. On the western side is a seated buddha depicted between a willow tree and a bamboo tree.

As the carvings of the pagodas are the first to be seen upon approaching the boulder, the area came to be known as Tapgok, meaning "Valley of the Pagodas." The discovery of various artifacts in the vicinity suggests that this was once the site of a temple named Sininsa.

Source: Korea Heritage Service signboard ↗ · collected 2026-10-08