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. ⸻ 🌟 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.