Seokguram Grotto

석굴암

Seokguram is a stone grotto temple on Mount Tohamsan in Gyeongju, South Korea. It is part of the Bulguksa temple complex, about 3 kilometers away, and it looks out toward the East Sea from 750 meters above sea level. Inside sits a large granite Buddha, one of the great masterpieces of the Silla kingdom.

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At a glance

Country: South Korea
Location: Gyeongju, South Korea
Built: 774
Height: 3.5 m
Type: Religious building

Quick answers

Where is Seokguram Grotto?

Seokguram Grotto is in Gyeongju, South Korea.

When was Seokguram Grotto built?

Seokguram Grotto was built in 774.

How tall is Seokguram Grotto?

Seokguram Grotto is about 3.5 m tall.

A granite grotto temple on Tohamsan whose seated Buddha facing the East Sea is a Silla masterpiece.

Work began in 751 and finished in 774, under the leader Kim Daeseong. The site became a National Treasure of South Korea in 1962 and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 together with Bulguksa. It is often named among the finest Buddhist sculptures in the world.

A grotto made from blocks

The grotto was first called Seokbulsa, which means Stone Buddha Temple. In Korea the rock is hard granite, which is difficult to carve into a cliff the way it was done in India and China, so builders made an artificial cave from carved granite blocks. The plan has an arched entrance, a rectangular front room, a narrow corridor with relief carvings and then a round main chamber. The seated Buddha, about 3.5 meters tall, faces the sea on a lotus throne.

Statues all around

The Buddha is surrounded by fifteen panels showing bodhisattvas, arhats and ancient Indian gods, along with ten statues in niches on the wall. In total, about forty figures show Buddhist ideas and teachings. Experts still debate which Buddha the main statue shows. Watching the sunrise over the sea, visible from near the statue's seat, is especially popular. To protect the site, photography inside is not allowed, and since 4 May 2023 entry has been free.

Fun facts

Rather than being dug into a cliff, the grotto was built from carved granite blocks.
The grotto was built from granite blocks instead of being dug into rock.
Around forty figures decorate the walls.
It faces the East Sea, which makes sunrise visits famous.