Ancient Tombs and Bulguksa Temple: Discovering the Silla Kingdom

Gyeongju, South Korea, is often described as a “museum without walls.” Throughout the city, reminders of the ancient Silla Kingdom appear in parks, neighborhoods, mountains, and along ordinary roads. Two of the area’s most memorable sights are its pyramid-like royal tombs and the historic Bulguksa Temple complex.

Entering the temple grounds symbolizes the journey toward enlightenment.

The large grassy mounds are sometimes compared to ancient pyramids because they were built as permanent burial places for rulers and other important people. However, unlike Egypt’s stone pyramids, Gyeongju’s tombs were constructed with burial chambers covered by stones, soil, and grass.

These ancient burial mounds are the final resting places of kings and queens from Korea’s Silla period.

From a distance, the tombs look like smooth green hills. Their simple appearance disguises the planning and labor required to build them. A wooden chamber was generally placed inside a pit to hold the deceased and burial objects. Stones were piled around and above the chamber before the entire structure was covered with earth.

Many tombs date from the period when Gyeongju was the capital of Silla, a kingdom that lasted from 57 BCE until 935 CE. During its height, Silla became one of the most powerful and culturally advanced kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula.

Excavated tombs have revealed golden crowns, jewelry, weapons, pottery, horse equipment, and other valuable objects.

one of the golden crowns located in the excavation of a burial mound. They think this may be the most recent crown because of how detailed it is.

These discoveries help historians understand how Silla’s rulers lived and what they believed about death and the afterlife. The contents also demonstrate the kingdom’s wealth, craftsmanship, and connections with other cultures.

Only two tombs have been excavated, but the discoveries inside have been remarkable.

One of Gyeongju’s best-known burial areas is the Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex. It contains more than 20 large mounds associated with Silla royalty and nobles. Cheonmachong, known as the Heavenly Horse Tomb, is especially interesting because visitors can enter a reconstructed version of its interior

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The tombs preserve the story of Silla’s rulers, but Bulguksa Temple reveals another side of the kingdom: its devotion to Buddhism and its extraordinary artistic achievements.

This active Buddhist temple is still home to nearly 60 monks.

Located on the slopes of Mount Tohamsan in Jinhyeon-dong, Bulguksa was developed into a major temple complex beginning in 751. Construction was directed by Kim Dae-seong during the reign of King Gyeongdeok and completed in 774. Its name is commonly translated as “Temple of the Buddha Land.”

Walking through the complex, I noticed how naturally its colorful wooden buildings, stone stairways, pagodas, and courtyards fit into the mountain landscape. The temple was designed to represent a Buddhist paradise on Earth. Climbing its stairways symbolically represents leaving the everyday world and entering a more spiritual place.

One of the remaining pagodas in the temple grounds.

Two famous stone pagodas stand in the main courtyard. Seokgatap has a simple and balanced appearance, while Dabotap features a much more elaborate design. Together, they demonstrate two different forms of Silla craftsmanship. Bulguksa also contains historic bridges, stairways, and gilt-bronze Buddha statues recognized as National Treasures.

Much of the temple’s wooden construction was destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea in the late 1500s. Reconstruction began afterward, and numerous restoration projects have preserved the complex for future generations. Bulguksa remains an active Buddhist temple rather than simply a historical attraction.

The temple complex contains multiple gates, shrines, and sacred spaces.

In 1995, Bulguksa and the nearby Seokguram Grotto were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Together, Gyeongju’s ancient tombs and Bulguksa Temple tell a more complete story of Silla. The grassy “pyramids” represent its rulers, wealth, and burial

Even a burial mound is surrounded by beauty and tranquility.

traditions. Bulguksa represents its Buddhist faith, architecture, and artistic skill. Visiting both made the ancient kingdom feel less like a chapter in a history book and more like a civilization whose presence can still be felt throughout Gyeongju.