The stone foundation supporting the exquisite buildings of Bulguksa Temple, resembling a castle wall.

Unlike most other Buddhist temples constructed on flat ground, Bulguksa Temple was built at the base of a mountain. Constructing a temple on an inclined terrain required first laying down a foundation to create a level surface. The people of Silla accomplished this by erecting a stone wall resembling a castle.

Constructing the wall and levelling the ground to ensure safe building construction required substantial effort, constituting one of the most challenging phases during the construction of Bulguksa Temple.

At first glance, the stone wall appears to consist of randomly stacked layers of stones. However, upon closer inspection, you'll notice the demarcation between the rough natural stones and neatly carved ones. The stones were meticulously placed to fit flawlessly, leaving no gaps in between. This precision was achievable by carving the stones in a manner facilitating perfect alignment, a common technique in traditional Korean architecture.

Previously, a splendid pond graced the area in front of the stone wall. According to the excavation team, the pond spanned an area four times larger than a tennis court. As it has not been restored to avoid inconveniencing visitors, the waterway through which water once flowed into the pond remains visible on the left side of the Cheongungyo Bridge and Baekungyo Bridges along the stone wall. Additionally, a layer of elongated stones crowns the stone wall, enhancing its visual orderliness and sturdiness.