Around Golgulsa Temple

Golgulsa Temple

Golgulsa Temple, located on Hamwolsan Mountain in Gyeongju City, is the headquarters of Sunmudo (Zen martial arts), earning it the nickname "Korea's Shaolin Temple." Approximately 1,500 years ago, a group led by the Indian monk Gwangyu settled on Hamwolsan Mountain in Gyeongju and founded Golgulsa and Girimsa Temples. Golgulsa Temple, modeled after Indian rock-cut temples by Monk Gwangyu and his companions, is the oldest rock-cut temple in Korea. At Golgul-am Hermitage, located at the foot of Hamwolsan Mountain, there are 12 rock caves carved into a colossal tuff rock several tens of meters high, and at the highest point of the rock face, there is a bas-relief rock-carved Buddha statue.