Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 43

8. Sarira Reliquary of the Gamunsa Temple, National Museum of
Korea, 7 century CE. This reliquary is unparalleled in beauty and craftsmanship. In Buddhism
the sarira are marble-like relics that remain after an enlightened being has been cremated. A
sarira reliquary is a work of art that is made to hold those relics. Since sarira are considered
sacred, the greatest artistic skill and most advanced techniques were used in its construction. In
2002, researchers tried to replicate the reliquary’s wind chime with modern heating equipment,
but could not achieve what 7 th century artisans could accomplish.
th
9. Pagoda at Bunhwang Temple, Gyeongju, 634 CE. The stone
pagoda of the Bunhwang Temple was built during the reign of Queen Seondok and is the only
surviving pagoda from the pre-unified Silla period. Originally the pagoda had nine stories, but
only three remain.
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