The members of the Vietnam national football team visited and toured the famous Bulguksa temple in Gyeongju on the afternoon of November 30, a day before their final practice match in South Korea.
The visit was part of the team’s training schedule in Gyeongju. The coaching staff considered it a mental therapy to help the players relax and recharge after a series of intense training sessions.
Bulguksa, meaning “land of Buddha,” is a temple with over 1,000 years of history, regarded as a masterpiece of architecture and art. It was built during the Silla period in 528 and later renovated in 751, a process that took over 20 years.
The temple has suffered from wars, fires, and earthquakes, causing damage to many parts of the structure. It has undergone several restorations, from the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) to the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). The most recent restoration took four years, beginning in 1969, to restore the temple’s original architecture. In 1995, UNESCO recognized Bulguksa as a World Heritage Site.
The temple currently houses six National Treasures of South Korea, with the two most notable being the Seokgatap and Dabotap pagodas. The Seokgatap pagoda, also known as the treasure pagoda, stands at 8.3 meters tall with three distinct tiers, symbolizing the strong rise of the spirit in alignment with Buddhist teachings. Meanwhile, the Dabotap pagoda is more intricately decorated, symbolizing the diversity of a colorful world.
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