#ibuzzkorea# Korea’s World Heritage

UNESCO has so far named seven Korean sites to the World Heritage list :

Bulguksa Temple

Bulguksa in Gyeongju was built in 774 during the Silla periode. Its architectural design has become the standard for temple construction.

Seokguram

Seokguram is a man made vave carved from white granite featuring a seated  Buddha and 38 other Bodhisattvas on the walls. Seokguram exquisitely combines Silla’s knowledge of architecture, math, geometry, physics, religion, and art into an organic whole.

Jongmyo is the royal ancestral shrine where the spirit tablets of Joseon kings and queen-consorts are enshrined and rituals performed. A ceremony is held on every first Sunday on May. The ritual and music used for the ceremony have been designated as Intangible Cultural Properties No. 56 and No. 1, respectively.

Tripitaka Koreana

Tripitaka Koreana is the oldest and most comprehensive compilation of Buddhist scriptures in existence today. It was carved on 81,340 woodblocks during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392).

Haeinsa Temple

The Janggyeongpanjeon at Haeinsa Temple is their repositories which has never been demaged by fire on war since  its first construction in 1488.

Changdeokgung

One of the five palaces in Seoul, Changdeokgung is free from the traditional symetrical or lineal arrangement of structures and was designed instead in accordance with the surrounding topography. It is a fine example of ancient Korean landscaping with a lotus pond , some 300-year-old trees, and a pavilion all arranged in harmony with their surrounding.

Hwaseong Fortrees

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon was built by King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800) as an act of filial piety to restore the honor of his father who was murdered as a result of palace intrigue. The Fortrees was design by Jeong Yak-Yong knows as Dasan, one of the greatest Confucian Silhak (Schoolar of Practical Learning) schoolars.

Dolmen Site

Gyeongju Historic Area and Dolmen sites in the counties of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa were also added to the list in 2000. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for a thousand years and the area is called a “Museum Without Walls” because of the remains.

In addition, UNESCO placed the Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music of Jongmyo Shrine, Pansori Epic Chant, and Gangneung Danoje Festival among the masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Also, the World Textual Heritage contains the Hunminjeongeum (correct sound to instruct the people, a primer for teaching Hangeul, the Korean alphabet) and Joseonwangjosillok (the court journals of the Joseon Dynasty); Seung jeongwonilgi, a daily account of Joseon court events ; and Jikjisimcheyojeol, the oldest book printed with metal type, dating back to 1377.

www.korea.net