UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea (재한유엔기념공원)
Dr. Scott, the Indiana Jones of Korea
A National Treasure (국보) is a tangible item, artifact, site, or building which is recognized by the South Korean government as having exceptional artistic, cultural and historical value to the country. National Historical Sites are "places and facilities of great historic and academic values that are specially commemorable" and include "prehistoric sites, fortresses, ancient tombs, kiln sites, dolmens, temple sites and shell mounds". Their magnitude and importance to Korean history has truly been disrespected by my terrible photography. Enjoy!
Dabotap (다보탑) National Treasure No. 20
Treasure: Pagoda representing the Dabo Buddha.
Location: Bulguksa
Details: The two pagodas reflect a story in the Lotus sutra. Dabo (Prabhutaratna), a Buddha who had already achieved enlightenment, riding the Tower of Many Treasures, appeared to attest to the validity of Sakyamuni's sermons at Vulture Peak. Dabo and Sakyamuni then sat side by side within the tower. The sophisticated Dabotap symbolizes the complexity of the world.
Timeline: Built in 751 by King Gyeongdeok.
The Cheongungyo (Blue Cloud Bridge, 청운교) and Baegungyo (White Cloud Bridge, 백운교) National Treasure No. 23
Treasure: Two bridges that lead to the Bahaman (golden purple gate) and Sakyamuni Hall.
Location: Bulguksa
Details: The Blue Cloud Bridge makes up the lower span of the stair while the White Cloud Bridge is the upper part. There are 33 steps on the stairway, which corresponds to one of the 33 heavens of Buddhism.
Timeline: Built around 750 during the reign of King Gyeongdeok. Declared national treasure(s) on December 20, 1962.
Stele of Master Jingam at Ssanggyesa Temple (진암 대장 석비) National Treasure No. 47
Treasure: Stele dedicated to Master Jingam (774-850), a highly respected spiritual and ethical leader who introduced the Buddhist musical heritage called “Brahma Chants” to Korea.
Location: Ssanggyesa
Details: The pedestal exhibits the style established during the late Unified Silla Period (676-935) marked by a dragon head, a tortoise back, and a large rectangular hole at the center holding the body of the stele as well as cloud designs on four sides. The lengthy epitaph engraved on the body was composed and calligraphed by Choe Chi-won (857-?).
Timeline: Built in 887 when Okcheonsa was renamed Ssanggyesa.
Gilt-Bronze Standing Bodhisattva National Treasure No. 200
Treasure: Gilt-bronze standing Bodhisattva
Location: Busan Museum
Details: Bodhisattva statue with its right hand raised with the palm up and the left hand with its middle finger bent, seemingly holding a Buddhist ritual sprinkler. The Bodhisattva is crowned by the usnisa, and it seems to have been wearing a crown since there is a small hole on the usnisa. The statue, with the dignity and merciful look, is considered as one of the most magnificent artworks of the Unified Silla era.
Timeline: Unified Silla Period
Daeungjeon Hall (대웅전) and Ordination Platform National Treasure No. 290
Treasure: Daeungjeon Hall and Ordination Platform of Tongdosa Temple
Location: Tongdosa temple
Details: The Daeungjeon Hall was first built during the reign of Queen Seondeok of Silla, but was later burnt down during the Japanese Invasion in 1592. The hall and ordination platform was reconstructed in 1645 (the 23rd year of King Injo of Joseon). The Daeungjeon Hall usually houses a Buddha/Bodhisattva statue, but in Tongdosa the sarira of Buddha (ie relics) are housed behind the building in the Geumgang Ordination.
Timeline: King Injo of Joseon Period
Sarira Pagoda (사리탑) Treasure No. 61
Treasure: Container for the relics or remains of famous priests or royalty. It is said that this sarira contained the remains of eight priests or a queen.
Location: Bulguksa
Details: It is believed that this sarira contained the remains of eight priests or a queen. The pillar supports of the main body are carved with a cloud motif while the main body is cylindrical and has four bas-reliefs of Buddha and bodhisattvas and are accompanied by flower motifs.
Timeline: Goryeo dynasty, with apparent Silla dynasty influence.
Three Story Pagoda of Beomeosa (범어사) Treasure No. 250
Treasure: Three story pagoda of Beomeosa.
Location: Beomeosa, in front of main hall
Details: Instead of inscribing the pillars like other pagodas, lotus leaves were carved on the side of base. The roof compartment was made flat and the corners of roof were slightly raised. The design/construction showsfeatures of both the late Unified Silla and early Goryeo.
Timeline: Late Silla dynasty.
Paldalmun Gate (팔달문) Treasure No. 402
Treasure: Paldalmun Gate is the southern gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Location: Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon
Details: The name means "a gate opening to a road that leads to all directions." The gate has an entrance wide enough to let the king's palanquin pass through and a watchtower over the entrance. Outside of the gate is a crescent-shaped protection wall called ongseong.
Timeline: King Jeongjo of Joseon Period.
Hwaseomun Gate (화서문) Treasure No. 403
Treasure: Western gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Location: Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon
Details: Over the stone mujigae (rainbow) door is a single-story tower gate. Hwaseomun Gate's ongseong (defensive gate) forms a crecent shape, with one side of the ongseong remaining open..
Timeline: King Jeongjo of Joseon Period.
Daeungjeon Hall of Beomeosa (대웅전) Treasure No. 434
Treasure: Shrine to Sakyamuni statue.
Location: Beomeosa
Details: Daeungjeon Hall at Beomeosa Temple enshrines a Sakyamuni statue, flanked by statues of Maitreya and Gara Bodhisattva. According to Ilyeon's Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Beomeosa Temple was built in 678 (the 18th year of the reign of King Munmu) by Uisang, a Buddhist monk of the Unified Silla Period. It was burnt down during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, but was rebuilt in 1602 (the 35th year of the reign of King Seonjo of the Joseon Dynasty).
Timeline: Middle Joseon dynasty.
Alms Bowl Pagoda (알름스 보울 파고다) Treasure No. 471
Treasure: Alms bowl pagoda.
Location: Tongdosa temple
Details: The function of the pagoda is unknown, but it is believed that it was used to keep the clothes and rice bowl of Buddha to be handed to Maitreya.
It has an unusual appearance in that a huge rice bowl with a lid is placed on the top of the pedestal, which consists of the bottom, middle, and top layers of stones in the shape of a janggu (a traditional Korean instrument – a double-headed drum with a narrow waist in the middle).
Judging from the carving of the lotus design and the style of the pillar for the pedestal, it is assumed that the pagoda was built during the Goryeo Dynasty. However, the pedestal and the bowl-shaped stone structure have slightly different styles and may have been built in different times.
Timeline: Goryeo dynasty.
Jogyemun Gate of Beomeosa (조계문) Treasure No. 1461
Treasure: Jogyemun gate of Beomeosa
Location: Beomeosa
Details: Initial entrance to Beomeosa. The exact construction date of Jogyemun Gate is unknown, but it is presumed to have been built in 1614 (the 6th year of the reign of King Gwanghaegun of the Joseon Dynasty). This corresponds to the time when Buddhist monk Myojeon, who was in charge of the temple at the time, initiated the repair and restoration of several halls at the temple.
Timeline: King Sukjong of Joseon Period
Three Story Pagoda of Tongdosa Treasure No. 1471
Treasure: Three story pagoda of Tongdosa
Location: Tongdosa temple
Details: It stands 3.9m tall and has a 1.8m-wide two-tier stylobate that sits on top of a layer of large foundation stones.
Each story of the pagoda’s body consists of one core stone and one roof stone.
Its stylistic characteristics are as follows: 1) Each face of the lower tier of the stylobate is carved with the symbolic images of the elephant’s eyes without pillar patterns.
Timeline: Unified Silla Period
Wooden Seated Sakyamuni Buddha Triad of Beomeosa (목조석가여래삼존좌상) Treasure No. 1526
Treasure: Three statues in Daeunjeon Hall
Location: Beomeosa
Details: These main statues in the Daeungjeon Hall of Beomeosa Temple; Sakyamuni (Historic Buddha), Maitreya (the Future Buddha) and Dipamkara (the Buddha of Fixed Light, predictor of enlightenment in the future). According to discovered documents, the statues were made in the the second year of King Hyeonjong’s reign during the Joseon Dynasty.
Timeline: King Hyeonjong of Joseon Period
Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion (방화수류정) Treasure No. 1709
Treasure: The northeast watchtower of Hwaseong Fortress.
Location: Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon
Details: Officially called the Dongbukgangnu Pavilion, it sits atop a hill east of Hwahongmun Gate and offers beautiful views of Yeonmudae Post to the east and Janganmun Gate to the west. The pavilion received the nickname Banghwasuryujeong, meaning a pavilion where one can "find flowers and stroll among willow trees."It was known to be the spot where King Jeongjo would stop by to rest on his way to Hwaseong Fortress.
Timeline: King Jeongjo of Joseon Period.
Mural Painting in Yeongsanjeon Hall (영산전) Treasure No. 1711
Treasure: Mural paintings in Yeongsanjeon Hall.
Location: Tongdosa temple
Details: Inside the building, there are fifty-two murals in total on the wall panels. Forty-eight wall panels, except two that depict the scene from the “Vision of the Bejeweled Stupa” of the Saddharmapundarika Sutra and the painting featuring dragons and clouds, placed behind the Buddha statues, represent scenes from Seokssi wollyu eunghwa sajeok (Life and Activities of Sakyamuni Buddha Incarnate).
According to information found on a carved wooden tablet, the murals were painted in 1715 by fourteen monk painters including the famous Chongan.
Timeline: Joseon dynasty.
Yeongsanjeon Hall (영산전) Treasure No. 1826
Treasure: Yeongsanjeon Hall
Location: Tongdosa temple
Details: Yeongsanjeon Hall is the central building of the temple’s Harojeon Area. It was built facing south and is flanked by two prayer halls, Geungnakjeon and Yaksajeon.
No one knows exactly when the hall was originally built, but according to a document (written in 1717 and currently stored in the Tongdosa Museum), both Yeongsanjeon Hall and Cheonwangmun Gate were destroyed by a fire in 1713 and rebuilt the following year.
Timeline: Joseon Period
Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall (대광명전) Treasure No. 1827
Treasure: Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall
Location: Tongdosa temple
Details: Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple is the central building of the temple’s Jungnojeon Area.
According to a historical record on the temple, the hall was renovated in 1725 (1st year of the reign of King Yeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty) by a Buddhist monk named Chukhwan.
Timeline: Joseon Period
National Historical Sites
Hwaseong fortress (수원 화성) No. 3
Treasure: Hwaseong fortress.
Location: Suwon
Details: Hwaseong fortress was built between 1794 to 1796, under the command of King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800) of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). The walled city was constructed to accommodate citizens who were displaced when King Jeongjo moved his Father's grave from Yangju to the area. he construction of this fortress was a result of meticulous city planning by King Jeongjo.
Timeline: King Jeongjo of Joseon Period.
Tomb of King Suro (수로왕비릉) No. 73
Historical site: Tomb of King Kim Suro (수로).
Location: Gimhae (South Gyeongsang province)
Details: King Suro founded Geumgwan Gaya (Garakguk), the ruling city-state of the Gaya confederacy during the "Three Kingdoms Period". The Gaya dynasty introduced the cultivation of rice and production of iron in Korea. King Suro was also the family founder of the Gimhae Kim and Heo families.
Timeline: King Suro died in 199. In 1580, governor Ho Yop (North and South Gyeongsang Provinces) had the tomb repaired.
Tomb of Queen Heo. No. 74
Historical site: Tomb of Queen Heo.
Location: Gimhae (South Gyeongsang province)
Details: Heo Hwang-ok was a princess from from the Ayuta state of India. It is believed that she was a 16 years-old when she arrived in the Gaya Kingdom to marry King Suro. The Pisa Stone Pagoda is believed to have been brought by Heo Hwang-ok from India in 48 A.D. The pagoda is also called Chimpungtap (Wind Calming Pagoda) because it is believed to have a mysterious power to calm the stormy sea.
Timeline: Queen Heo died in 189.
Hwaryeongjeon Shrine (화령전) No. 115
Historical site: Hwaryeongjeon Shrine
Location: Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon
Details: Building that houses and preserves the portrait of King Jeongju. Hwaryeongjeon originally housed Iancheong (temporary shrine), main hall, Jeonsacheong (storehouse for ceremonial objects), Hyangdaecheong (storage room), Jegigo (storage room for ritual objects), Oesammun, Naesammun, and Junghyeommun gates, and Unhangak Hall, where the portrait of King Jeongjo was enshrined
Timeline: King Sunjo of Joseon Period.
Ancient Tombs in Bokcheon-dong (복천동) No. 273
Historical site: Tombs in Bokcheon-dong
Location: Bokcheon-dong, Busan
Details: A large group of ancient tombs from the Gaya Dynasty (pre-6th century), which contained more 2000 artifacts. At this site, many styles of tombs from the Gaya Era were found, including the pit tomb, the wooden chamber tomb, and the stone chamber tomb with tunnel entrances,
Timeline: Gaya Dynasty
Ancient Tombs in Daeseong-dong (대성동) No. 341
Historical site: Tombs in Daeseong-dong
Location: Hilly area extending from east to west between Gimhae Construction Technical High School and Gimhae Public Stadium., Busan
Details: A large group of ancient tombs from the Gaya Dynasty, which contained more 2000 artifacts. At this site, many styles of tombs from the Gaya Era were found, including the pit tomb, the wooden chamber tomb, and the stone chamber tomb with tunnel entrances.
Timeline: Gaya Dynasty
Gujibong Peak, Gimhae (구지봉) No. 429
Historical site: Gujibong Peak
Location: Gimhae (Busan)
Details: According to the “Record of Gaya” in Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), Kim Suro descended from heaven in an egg in the year 42 AD and was born at this site. On the summit of the peak is a southern-style dolmen (see left) dating back to the 4th century BC, which has the inscription “Gujibongseok". The peak was originally named Gusubong (roughly translating to turtle head) due to its resemblance to a turtle. The flat part of the peak (the turtle’s head) is the location of King Suro's Tomb.
Timeline: King Suro of Gaya Dynasty
Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress (화성행궁) No. 478
Historical site: Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress.
Location: Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon.
Details: The place where King Jeongjo stayed during trips to worship at his father's tomb. The palace was also the location of a massive party to celebrate the 60th birthday of his mother, Hyegyeonggung Hong. The palace also hosted many other events such as award certificates for successful candidates of special national exams.
Timeline: King Jeongjo of Joseon Period