In my dissertation I focus on Bulguksa Temple, which was built during the reign of the United Silla kingdom and is an example of golden age of Buddhist art from this period. Based on literature and pictorial material, I have tried to present the Bulguksa Temple as an example of the art of United Silla kingdom and its meaning and significance throughout the history. The construction of Bulguksa Temple was started my Prime minister Kim Dae-song during the reign of King Kyongdok (742-765), but he died before the temple was built. The work was completed by the ruling family, who finish the built as a symbol of their political power and as a symbol of kingdom’s power. The Bulguksa temple was named Buddha’s Land, thus hinting at the connection of Silla’s kingdom to paradise on earth. Throughout history the temple has remained an important symbol of power and Buddhist art. During the Japanese invasion (1592-1589) the temple was burned and only stone parts of the original temple have been preserved. It was reconstructed and restored over the years and in 1995 was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today the temple houses six national treasures of South Korea and other historical treasures. The temple is still an important part of Korean culture and it does not only symbolizes peak of Buddhist art, but also the strength of the Korean nation against foreign occupation.
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