- Address: 320-2 Guhwang-dong, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
- Phone: +82 54-779-6114
Interest in Buddhism and its culture always remains at the proper level. Fundamental principles of religion promise her adherents insight and inner harmony, and monasteries and prayers are so unusual for an Orthodox person that cause a storm of emotions. According to ancient buildings, one can study the history of not only religion, but also of an entire country, inextricably linked with it. South Korea in this regard will not be an exception. Monastery Hvannensa will touch the culture and an important milestone of the history of the Country of morning freshness.
What Hvannensa will interest tourists?
This monastery was the center of Buddhism in Korea during the period of Silla and United Silla. Here were kept the greatest relics and the most important artifacts of that time. Among them - a huge statue of the Buddha from bronze, which reached 5.2 m in height, and weighed more than 27 tons. But in 1238 during the Mongol invasion of the Korean Peninsula this sacred place and its relics were burned.
Today, Hwännensa is a stone ruin that is located in the city of Gyeongju . Here you can see the preserved foundation of the temple and the model of the highest pagoda of those times. It is stored in an administrative building that serves as a museum.
The scope of ancient construction
Historians and archaeologists have managed to establish the scale of losses. In general, the area of the main hall of the temple occupied 800 square meters. m, in height it reached 47 m, and the width amounted to 17 m. The layout of Hwännensy was conceived on the principle of "three halls - one pagoda". This is a fairly common structure of Buddhist temple complexes. In fact, in the center of the temple was a pagoda, and surrounded by three halls. Separately it is worth mentioning the outer wall of the monastery - it reached 288 m in length.
By the way, the pagoda in Hwanens was considered one of the highest in the territory of Korea ever built. Its structure consisted of 9 floors, rushing to a height of 80 m. The area of the pagoda is 565 square meters. m, and surrounded by 8 massive columns. Today, archaeological excavations continue on the territory of the temple complex. Here you can see a number of artifacts from the period of the existence of Hwannens, statues of Buddha, stones that served as the basis for the pagoda.
How to get there?
To get to the temple complex is the easiest way by taxi. In addition, it is possible to use the services of public transport , namely bus number 602, which runs every 90 minutes.