Stone Elevation of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

This stone retaining wall dates to the mid-8th century when Bulguksa Temple was founded and demonstrates the artistry and construction technology of the Unified Silla period (668-935). Topped with corridor buildings and gates, it defines the front and left boundaries of Bulguksa Temple’s main worship areas.

The retaining wall was built to accommodate the natural sloping terrain. It was constructed using a combination of large unhewn stones, medium roughly-hewn stones, and stones carved into the shape of pillars and pillar joints. Overall, the wall resembles the post-and-lintel design found in Korean wooden architecture.

Some parts of the retaining wall had significantly collapsed in the early 20th century, but its overall design could still be ascertained. The wall was repaired in the 1920s and 1970s to restore it to its original appearance, and the Silla-style corridor buildings were added in the 1970s.

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