Gyeongju Mangdeoksa Temple Site

About this place

This temple site is located at the foot of Nangsan (Wolf Mountain) in Gyeongju, facing Sacheonwangsa Temple. The exact date of its founding is unclear, though it is traditionally attributed to the reign of King Munmu or King Sinmun of Silla. The site retains the foundations of the eastern and western wooden pagodas, and to their north the main hall and lecture hall foundations, to the south a middle gate foundation, and surrounding these the corridor foundations — reflecting the classic twin-pagoda temple layout of the Unified Silla period. Additionally, a staircase foundation survives to the south of the middle gate, and to its west stands a flagpole support (National Treasure) still in its original position. This temple, along with Hwangnyongsa, Sacheonwangsa, and Hwangboksa, was one of the most important temples in Gyeongju and holds significant historical meaning.