Bulguksa Temple Guardians
.jpg "Bulguksa Temple Guardian") |
| Bulguksa Temple Guardian |
Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju is a Korean national icon. Bulguksa was completed in 774 in the Silla dynasty but was unfortunately destroyed by an invading Japanese army in the early 17th century.
These huge temple guardians are a common feature in temples in China, Korea and Japan and are related to ancient Hindu demi-gods or devas (cheon in Korean). Their job is to prevent evil spirits from entering the sacred grounds of the temple's inner sanctum.
Image © Daniel Allen
