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Why did Gyeongju become an important center of Korean architecture during the Unified Silla period?
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Korean architecture
Five-story stone pagoda of Jeongrimsa Temple, first half of the 7th century, Baekje period; in Buyeo, South Korea. Height 8.33 meters (27.3 feet).
Gyeongju became a preeminent center of Korean architecture during the Unified Silla period (668ā935) primarily because it served as the capital of a newly unified kingdom that experienced a golden age of art and culture.12
Several factors contributed to its architectural significance:
- Urban Planning: As the capital, Gyeongju was modeled after Changāan, the capital of Tang China. It featured a sophisticated, organized layout with broad, straight avenues arranged in a rectangular grid pattern.12
- Religious Prosperity: Buddhism flourished during this era, leading to the construction of numerous grand temples and monuments throughout the region. The city and its surroundings became home to iconic structures like the Pulguk Temple and the SÅkkuram cave temple, which represent the pinnacle of Buddhist architectural and sculptural achievement in East Asia.13
- Shift in Cultural Focus: Following the unification of the Korean peninsula, the southeast regionāspecifically Gyeongjuāemerged as the primary hub for artistic and architectural development, while the influence of northern regions diminished.12
- Royal Patronage: The city showcased the magnificence of Silla royalty through projects like the Anapchi pond and its associated pavilions, demonstrating advanced engineering and garden design.1