경주 역사 지구, 신라왕조가 살아나는 곳
Sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, and the remains of temples. The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain a remarkable concentration of Korean Buddhist art... particularly from the 7th to 10th centuries.
Our Hwang Hojun introduces us to the Gyeongju Historic Areas: Korea's UNESCO World Heritage.
It's the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom.
And it continues to tell the story of the golden kingdom, even today.
The Gyeongju Historic Area is divided into five distinct areas, the Namsan Belt, the Wolsong Belt, the Tumuli Belt, the Hwangnyongsa Belt and the Sanseong Belt, where one can experience the birth and fall of Silla.
There are ten criteria UNESCO uses to assess whether a heritage candidate has outstanding universal value.
To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must meet at least one of the ten selection criteria.
The Gyeongju Historic Area was selected as a World Heritage Site in 2000 after meeting two of the criteria... exhibiting evidence of interchange of human values, and bearing exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which has disappeared.
"There is abundant evidence that Silla played a crucial role in the cultural communication in East Asia, Gyeongju being the final destination of the Maritime Silk Road.
Moreover, the city bears some archaeological significance as it preserves the features of the ancient kingdom's capital."
To name a few...
One cannot miss the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, in the Tumuli belt of the area, because of the numerous and prominent burial mounds containing the tombs of kings and nobles.
Since excavation started in the 1970s, over 40,000 relics have been found, including royal crowns and golden accessories.
One of the tombs rose to fame after a painting of a winged horse on birch bark was discovered.
The tombs not only demonstrate the lavish lifestyle of the royals, but the some excavated artifacts, including those made out of glass, show us Silla was more than just a kingdom sitting on the east end of Asia.
Rather, it was a country that actively traded with countries in the West, including Persian countries and even Rome.
Cheomseongdae, the world's oldest surviving observatory stands in the Wolseong Belt of the district.
"By measuring the position of the sunlight shining through the small window on Cheomseongdae, it was possible to keep track of the 24 seasonal divisions, which was crucial for an agrarian society."
Built in the 7th century, Cheomseongdae's symmetrical and round structure, along with its deep pit filled with gravel and sand, made the ancient observatory earthquake-resistant.
As a matter of fact, it even survived the magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Gyeongju last Monday.
Countless remnants of Silla, including the old palace site, give visitors the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the kingdom's past glories.
"They built so many beautiful buildings and a beautiful town. This was really impressive. Yes.
Most impressive to see what is like a possible in the past. What was possible in the past."
The city itself is an open-air museum... a treasure trove that testifies to the unique, artistic, and international identity of the millennium-long Silla Dynasty.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News, Gyeongju.
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18 сен 2016
