Jinheon-dong, South Korea - Bulguksa Temple

We left the temple area and had some free time to go to the gift shop and walk back to the bus.  This is the gift shop.

Jinheon-dong, South Korea - Bulguksa Temple Sarira Pagoda and Lucky Stones

The Sarira pagoda looks like a stone lantern.  This was taken by Japan in 1906 but was returned in 1933.  It is from the Goryeo Dynasty, but shows the influene of the Silla Dynasty art.

Jinheon-dong, South Korea - Bulguksa Temple - Vairocana

We climbed a level and then there were more steps to the Birojeon (Hall of Vairocana)

Jinheon-dong, South Korea - Bulguksa Temple - Daeungjeon Main Hall

The eaves are incredible and fascinated me, as you can tell from all of the photos.  I began to feel motivated to make my eaves a little fancier at home!

Jinheon-dong, South Korea - Bulguksa Temple Cheongungyo and Dabotap

The entrance to the temple, Sokgyemun, has a double-sectioned staircase and bridge that leads to the inside of the temple compound.

Jinheon-dong, South Korea - Bulguksa Temple - Four Heavenly Kings Gate

Updated from earlier post!
The walkway was lined with brightly colored lotus lanterns. The lanterns cover the entire temple throughout the month and often spill down the street (as we saw in earlier posts). Each lantern had a Buddha child with a finger pointing up and one pointing down.

Jinheon-dong, South Korea - Bulguksa Temple Entrance

A large engraved boulder shows that this site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.  The site is the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and encompasses seven National Treasures of South Korea.  The temple is classified as Historic and Scenic Site No. 1 by the South Korean Government.