Buddhist Architecture in Korea

Younghoon Choi

Overview

The goal of this chapter is to learn about Buddhist Architecture in Korea. The motivation comes from my background of growing up in South Korea, which has a rich history of Buddhism. Because of Korea’s rich history of Buddhism, I was fortunate enough to learn about its architecture from a young age. This was an excellent opportunity to explore deeper into my culture as this course, ART 104, allowed me to understand better why and how Buddhism architecture is the way it is.

In this paper, I will start by introducing the historical overview of South Korea, such as how Buddhism was introduced to Korea and some characteristics. I will then provide examples of Buddhist architecture, such as Bulguksa, Seokguram, Beomesa, and Jogyesa. I will end the paper by reflecting on the question, “What is Asian Art?”.

Historical Background

The Three Kingdoms period includes three dynasties, including Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, which lasted from the 1st to the 7th century. This period played a significant role in Korean history in shaping the national identity and culture of what we now know as Korea. Buddhism was also introduced to Koreans during this time as monks spread the religion by establishing temples, educating, and providing spiritual guidance to the public. Many Buddhism architecture, such as temples and pagodas, were built during this time.

Buddhism became the dominant religion in Korea during the Unified Silla Dynasty as it first became popular in the royal family. They believed the benefits of Buddhism offered a sophisticated philosophical system and provided educational opportunities. Buddhism’s practices were often used to deal with hardships in life. As Silla was facing external threats from China and Japan, Buddhism’s emphasis on inner peace and enlightenment provided a way to overcome the challenges in life.

Characteristics of Korean Buddhism Architecture

Korean Buddhism architecture is known for its unique architectural styles. Overall, Korean Buddhist architecture is known for its elegant simplicity and harmonious blend of natural and artificial elements while creating spaces promoting meditation and spiritual growth. Korean Buddhist architecture is typically constructed with natural materials such as wood, allowing them to be sustainable. Koreans also emphasized symmetry and balance in their architecture. How the structures are arranged shows balance and harmony in their surroundings or position. Temples in Korea are often placed within nature, such as mountains, forests, or rivers. The idea is to provide the best environment to meditate and grow spiritually. Red, blue, green, yellow, and white were the primary colors of Korean Buddhist architecture, as each represented different aspects of teaching, creating a vibrant and colorful structure. Similar to Chinese architecture, the roofs of Korean temples are curved, which resemble the wings of a bird. A curved roof helped protect the buildings from rain or snow and provided a distinct visual. Most Buddhist temples in Korea offer a courtyard, a peaceful space to practice their religion.

Bulguksa

Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple complex located in Gyeongju that is known to be one of Korea’s first Buddhist architecture. It is surrounded by mountains and forests that offer stunning views. It was built during the Silla Dynasty in the 8th century under the direction of leader Kim Daeseong. It is considered one of Korea’s finest architecture, with natural elements such as rock formations and water features. It is also known for its intricate and detailed carvings, including numerous sculptures of Buddha and figures of Buddhism around the complex. Pagodas such as Dabotop and Seokatop are famous structures in the complex.

Dabotop

Dabotop is a three-story pagoda located in the Bulguksa complex. It has intricate carvings depicting Buddhist deities, guardians, and mythical creatures. These carvings are meant to convey Buddhist teachings and stories. It is made out of Granite, a popular material during the Silla Dynasty. It stands at 33 feet tall as each level of the pagoda has a different width and height, with the first level being the widest at 14.6 feet, the second level at 13 feet, and the third level at 11.7 feet. The pagoda’s design represents the Buddhist concept of the universe, as each level symbolizes a different aspect of cosmology. 

1. The first level represents the natural world, meaning it symbolizes the realm of desire, the lowest of the realms of existence in Buddhist cosmology. 
2. The second level symbolizes water, in other words, Buddhist teachings, as it is decorated with lotus flowers and the wheel of the law. The reliefs on this level represent the realm of form, a higher realm of existence. 
3. The third level represents fire with decorations, including Buddhist deities. This level represents the realm of formlessness, the highest realm of existence.

The pagoda features multiple tiers of chattras that are believed to represent the stages of enlightenment. The chapters on the Dabotap are on top of pedestals, representing the steps towards achieving enlightenment. The Dabotap is a symmetrical structure with four sides featuring the same number of chapters and pedestals. This symmetry is meant to represent balance and harmony, essential Buddhist concepts.

Seokatop

Seokatop is a pagoda also located in Bulguksa. It is a five-tiered stone pagoda, which stands at over 8 meters in height. The structure is highly detailed, with intricate carvings of Buddhist figures, symbols, and scenes. Its material is also granite, which is a durable and long-lasting material. Using granite also gives the pagoda a sense of solidity and strength. The pagoda is situated amidst lush greenery and landscaped gardens, adding to the sense of tranquility and harmony. Each of the five tiers represents a different element of Buddhist cosmology.

1. The first level represents the earth as it is decorated with carvings of animals and humans and floral patterns. This represents the realm of desire, the lowest realm in Buddhist cosmology.
2. The second level represents water, decorated with bodhisattvas and other celestial beings, lotus flowers, and the Wheel of the Law. This level represents the realm of form which is a higher realm.
3. The third level represents fire as it is decorated with carvings of the Buddha and other Buddhist deities. It also includes symbols of the ultimate truth of Buddhist teachings, such as the Eight-Spoke Wheel. This level represents the realm of formlessness which is the highest realm.
4. The fourth and fifth level of the pagoda represents emptiness. They are decorated with lotus petals and other simple geometric patterns. This level represents the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice, meaning enlightenment and the cycle of birth and death.

Seokguram

Seokguram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Gyeongju, South Korea. Seokguram is surrounded by the slopes of Mount Toham, which was chosen for its spiritual significance. The mountain is believed to be a sacred site symbolizing the birth of the Buddha. It is known for its giant statue of the Buddha as well as other sculptures, carvings, and its unique dome. It was also built during Silla Dynasty in the 8th century and directed by leader Kim Daeseong. The dome is double-layered, with an inner layer that consists of 108 individual blocks and an outer layer that consists of 38 blocks. The two layers are held together by a system of interlocking joints, which help distribute the dome’s weight evenly. The grotto dome’s circular shape symbolizes the shape of a lotus flower. Lotus flowers are important symbols in Buddhism, representing purity and enlightenment. The Buddha is surrounded by figures representing the supportive community of practitioners who helped him achieve enlightenment. The arrangement of the figures is designed to create a sense of balance and harmony in the space. The symmetry of the layout, combined with the careful attention to detail in the carvings.

Beomesa

Bemeosa is a Buddhist temple complex in Busan, South Korea, surrounded by the mountains of Geumjeongsan. It was built during the 7th century by a monk from Silla Dynasty. However, it has gone through several restorations over the years. The temple has been the center of Buddhist practices in Korea, producing numerous Buddhist leaders yearly. Other structures, such as pagodas, stone lanterns, and halls, can be found in the complex. Stone lanterns are placed throughout the temple grounds. These lanterns are individually carved and decorated with Buddhist symbols and motifs and illuminated during special ceremonies and events. The complex features several pagodas on site, including the three-story stone pagoda near the temple grounds entrance. These pagodas are intricately carved and decorated with various Buddhist symbols and imagery. The Bell Pavilion, also called the Brahma Bell Pavilion, houses a large bronze bell rung during important Buddhist ceremonies and events. The pavilion is decorated with colorful paintings and carvings and is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Jogyesa

Jogyesa is a temple located in Seoul, South Korea. It was built during the Joseon Dynasty but had to be restored multiple times due to fires and wars. The temple consists of Buddhism structures such as a bell tower, gardens, and lanterns. The bell tower is located near the entrance and has a large bronze bell rung at certain times of the day. The tower is painted red and green and has a sloping roof. It is a two-story wooden structure with a sloping roof and upturned corners. The main hall’s interior is decorated with elaborate murals and statues of Buddha and other Buddhist figures. It is also known for its beautiful lantern displays, especially during the Lotus Lantern Festival representing the enlightenment and teachings of the Buddha. It is held annually with attendance from diverse people across continents while offering workshops and classes on various traditional Korean crafts like calligraphy while teaching Buddhism. The temple has several gardens, including a lotus pond and a bamboo grove. These gardens are designed to provide a peaceful environment for visitors.

Jogyesa is not just any temple but a symbol of defiance and toughness throughout Korea’s history. During Japan’s occupation period in Korea during the early 1900s, Jogyesa provided shelter for those who opposed different cultural suppression attempts by colonial authorities. Jogyesa still remains an essential representation of Korean Buddhist culture upholding its unique traditions focused on the heritage that continues drawing visitors worldwide interested in experiencing its exceptional atmosphere.

Reflection

My understanding model of Asian Art has developed while taking ART 104. Before taking this course, Asian art to me was structures or paintings only from countries such as Korea, Japan, and China. Since Korea has had lots of history and interactions with them, I was constantly exposed to them from movies or real life with my own eyes. This course allowed me to explore and understand Asian Art more widely. Learning about cultures I was not aware of, such as Kucha, Kashmir, Gandhara, and Sogdia, brought me to a realization of how each region or style of art is unique in its way while having similarities in colors, material, or structure with each other based on their beliefs, location or history. This shows the influence people have on one another, whether from a good or bad interaction.

Conclusion

To achieve the goal of learning about Buddhist Architecture in Korea, I talked about the history of Buddhism in Korea and how it was developed over the years. Some famous temples are explained in facts or the motives behind their creation. Finally, I ended the paper by answering, “What is Asian Art?”.

Reading List

Park, Sam Y. An introduction to Korean architecture. Seoul, Korea: Jungwoo-Sa Publishing Co., 1991. 

Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. “Republic of Korea.” UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Accessed May 14, 2023. https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/kr. 

문화재청 국가문화유산포털. Accessed May 14, 2023. http://www.heritage.go.kr/main/?v=1683609548170. 

Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. “Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Accessed May 14, 2023. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/736.