Bulguksa Temple's Dabotap and Seokgatap Pagodas

Exploring the pagodas at Bulguksa Temple is delightful, but the stunning scenery rivals that of any foreign travel destination!

🏯 Seokgatap and Dabotap Pagodas

📌 Seokgatap Pagoda (National Treasure No. 21)
• Official Name: Also known as "Muyeongtap" (Shadowless Pagoda).
• Features: A three-story stone pagoda with a simple and unadorned design.
• Significance: Symbolizes the essential truth of Buddhism, showcasing modesty and restrained beauty.
• Discovery: Inside the pagoda, the world-renowned artifact **Mugujeonggwang Daedaranigyeong (the world's oldest woodblock print)** was found.

📌 Dabotap Pagoda (National Treasure No. 20)
• Name Meaning: Represents the Dharma body of "Daboyeorae" (Many Treasures Buddha).
• Features: Elaborate decorations and unique structure combining octagonal, circular, and square designs.
• Significance: Symbolizes the splendid world of Buddhism and the ideal Buddhist land.
• Evaluation: Renowned for its exceptional decorative beauty, considered unparalleled worldwide.

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🌟 Contrast Between the Two Pagodas
• Seokgatap: Simplicity, restraint, essence → "The Aesthetics of Emptiness"
• Dabotap: Splendor, decoration, ideal world → "The Aesthetics of Fulfillment"
• Standing side by side in the courtyard of Bulguksa Temple, they harmoniously represent the two realms of Buddhism—reality and ideal, essence and expression.

Post by 여행뒤엔출근 | Sep 19, 2025