Wooden Pagoda of Hwangnyongsa Temple, the Nine-storied Guardian against Invasion by the Nine Neighboring Nations

This miniature is a replica of Hwangnyongsa Temple, which was the largest Buddhist temple of Silla. The lofty tower looking down over the temple is quite impressive. Hwangnyongsa Temple was built to protect and defend the nation using the power of Buddha. There is a legend about the construction of the temple. Whilst builders were working on a palace extension project, a golden dragon appeared from heaven. The king considered the appearance a sign from Buddha and ordered the buildings to be reconstructed as a temple. The golden dragon became known as the protective guardian spirit of the kingdom, keeping it safe from invasion. ‘Hwangnyong’ means ‘golden dragon’, so the name of the temple is also derived from the story.

The most significant structure of the temple is definitely the central pagoda. The nine-story wooden pagoda had outstanding architectural and artistic value. This tall, splendid pagoda was constructed to protect Silla against invasion by any one of its nine neighboring countries. Standing 80 meters in height, the pagoda was visible from all over Gyeongju. Even with modern technology, it would not be easy to build an 80-meter-high wooden pagoda strong enough to sustain its own weight and withstand strong winds, so this tower was an advanced architectural triumph.

According to a legend, Silla asked its neighboring countries for carpenters to help build the pagoda. A particular carpenter decided to work on the project, but during the night following his decision, he dreamt about the collapse of his own country. When he awoke from his dream, he refused to continue working on the Silla pagoda. Suddenly, the heavens and the earth shook and trembled, and an old monk and a strong man suddenly appeared. They built the columns of the pagoda and, just as suddenly, disappeared. The carpenter realized that finishing the pagoda was his destiny, and so he completed the project.

Unfortunately, we can’t see the original wooden pagoda now because it was burnt down during the Mongol Invasion in 1238.