Both Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa temple are Unesco World Heritage sites. Seokguram Grotto said to be part of the Bulguksa temple complex, surprisingly, are located far apart. While both are on the slopes of Mt. Toham, they are four kilometers away from each other and we had to make two different trips to visit these korean treasures. It did give a feeling that they are two different temples. Both temples are from the Silla-era and definitely Buddhists, as evident by the presence of a stone Buddha in Seokguram Grotto and bronze gilded ones in Bulguksa temple. Bulguksa temple which started as a small temple in 528, was burned to the ground during Imjin wars when the Japanese invaded Korea and had been reconstructed, expanded and renovated countless times. Both Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa temple were credited to Kim Daeseong the chief minister of King Seongdeok of the Silla Kingdom. Our guide said Seokguram Grotto was dedicated to Kim's parents from a previous life while Bulguksa Temple was dedicated to his parents in his then present life. Such filial piety!
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Bulguksa Temple...
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