Designation of Gyeongju Geumgangsan Pyoambong Area as Historic Site

Buddhist Sacred Site Related to Martyrdom of Ichadon at Bukak, One of the Five Sacred Mountains of Silla Wangyeong

The area around Pyoambong Peak in Gyeongju Geumgangsan, designated as a Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage Site (Historic Site).

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Gyeongbuk Province announced that the area of ‘Gyeongju Geumgangsan Pyoambong (慶州 金剛山 瓢巖峯 一圓)’ located in Dongcheon-dong, Gyeongju, will be designated as a Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage (Historic Site) as of the 17th.

Regarding the ‘Gyeongju Geumgangsan Pyoambong area’ newly designated as a Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage (Historic Site), after the Cultural Heritage Committee (Historic Site Subcommittee) review by the Cultural Heritage Administration in April, a 30-day public notice period was held to gather opinions from stakeholders, and the designation was finalized through a recent confirmation review process.

Gyeongju Geumgangsan is the North Peak (Bukak) of the Silla Royal Capital’s Five Sacred Mountains (Wang-gyeong O-ak, 王京五岳) and one of the Four Sacred Sites (Saryeongji, 四靈地) where major state affairs were discussed. It is a sacred space of Silla and a place densely packed with important relics related to historical events of Silla, recognized for its historical and academic value.

Among the Silla Royal Capital’s Five Sacred Mountains, the ‘O-ak’ refers to the sacred mountains surrounding the royal capital’s center in all directions: East Peak (Dongak, Tohamsan),

West Peak (Seoak, Seondosan), South Peak (Namak, Namsan), Central Peak (Jungak, Nangsang), and North Peak (Bukak, Geumgangsan).

‘Saryeongji’ refers to the places where important meetings were held during significant events in Silla, located in the East (Cheongsongsan), South (Ujisan), West (Pijeon), and North (Geumgangsan).

Gyeongju Geumgangsan is not only a sacred space during the founding and state formation stages of Silla but also a holy site of Silla Buddhism.

It includes the ‘Pyoam’ relic, the birthplace of Silla’s founding where the six village chiefs unanimously acclaimed Park Hyeokgeose as the king of Silla, as well as ‘Baekryulsa Temple’ and the ‘Lee Chadon Martyrdom Monument’ related to the martyrdom of Lee Chadon, which marked the official recognition of Buddhism in Silla.

Ichadon Martyrdom Monument.

Additionally, many important cultural assets for understanding Silla history and Buddhist culture are distributed around, such as the ‘Stone Relief Buddha at Gulbulsa Temple Site’ and the ‘Gyeongju Dongcheon-dong Rock-carved Triad Buddha Seated Statue’.

Four-sided Buddha statue at Gulbulsa Temple.

The Gyeongju Geumgangsan Pyoambong area was also used as a resting place for the deceased of the Silla royal capital residents and as a space for rituals.

The ‘Talehae King’s Tomb in Gyeongju’ and the ‘Dongcheon-dong Tumuli Cluster’ of stone chamber tombs in the Geumgangsan Pyoambong area represent a cultural heritage that shows the shift of royal burial spaces from the city center to the surrounding mountainous hills.

Thus, the Gyeongju Geumgangsan Pyoambong area is a region densely packed with important cultural heritage related to Silla’s politics, religion, and rituals. It clearly reveals the sacred historical spatiality as the foundation of Silla’s formation, its symbolism as a holy site of Silla Buddhism, and the ritualistic place of Silla, reflecting an important turning point in Silla history.

This year, the province plans to invest 500 million KRW in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Administration and Gyeongju City to conduct in-depth academic research and establish a comprehensive maintenance plan and service to re-examine its historical value and prepare systematic preservation, management, and utilization measures.

Kim Sang-cheol, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “Following the designation of Gyeongju Nangsang and Gyeongju Namsan areas, the designation of Gyeongju Geumgangsan Pyoambong area as a Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage (Historic Site) will serve as an opportunity to deepen understanding and interest in Silla culture.” He added, “We will take the lead in the digital transformation of cultural heritage by not only restoring relics through thorough verification but also digitally restoring the entire Silla royal capital using digital technology.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.