Fine Art from Unified Silla period

Top: A personalized video footage of Gameunsa site in Korea
Bottom: Gameunsa Temple

As mentioned in class, King Sinmun's reign during the unified Silla period represented the pinnacle of royal ruling. The temple above was constructed by King Sinmun to commemorate his deceased father. It is evident,from the construction of this temple, that buddhism plays an integral role in family as well as state affairs. There is a belief in a unique realm where the dead dwells and eventually get reborn, and this is particular prevalent in ancient China. The chinese believe that though the physical body has passed on, one's spirit still lingers until he or she is given a proper farewell. As such, the Gameunsa Temple closely mirrors the Ancient Chinese ritual of "sending off" the dead. King Sinmun, in a more lavish style, decided to build a temple to ensure that his dad's departure to the spiritual realm is smooth sailing.


All that being said, it is notable that buddhism bodes well with the aristocracy and the commoners. By spending huge amount of resources to develop the temple, King Sinmun is basically setting a strong example. Commoners are more incline to believe in buddhism and follow specific rites, because "even the king is doing it too". I think this scenario reflects the world of celebrity and hollywood pretty accurately. For instance, if a group of celebrities wear type X sunglasses, teenagers and fans alike will start donning type X sunglasses. Hope you enjoyed my candid insights and be sure to catch the next blog post about Pre-modern Korea!


Link for more in-depth reading: http://koreatravelpost.blogspot.com/2011/05/three-storied-stone-pagoda-of-gameunsa.html