Hwangnyongsa Temple Site

Hwangnyongsa, or Hwangnyong Temple was a Buddhist temple in the city of Gyeongju, South Korea.

Completed in the 7th century, the enormous 9-story structure was built entirely with wood with interlocking design with no iron nails. It had a standing total height of 68 m or 80 m, making it one of the tallest structures in East Asia at the time of its construction. Only the massive foundation stones of the temple remain in current times.

Hwangryongsa was the center of state-sponsored Buddhism during the Silla and Unified Silla eras which were cultural beacons of Buddhism during its time. Its name means "Emperor/Imperial Dragon Temple." Archaeological excavations and other scientific studies of the temple began in April 1976 and continue today.