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Hwangnyongsa Temple: Tile Caps
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Hwangnyongsa Temple: Tile Caps
SOUTH KOREA, North Gyeongsang, Gyeongju; Unified Silla dynasty (668–935); Earthenware; Diameter: 9.7–14.5 cm; Gyeongju National Museum, South Korea
Hwangnyongsa Temple was the largest temple in Korea during the Unified Silla dynasty (668-935) and the material used for the construction of the temple were refined and intricate. These tiles, discovered at the temple site, demonstrate the range of cultural influences at this time. These three tiles each have their own distinctive designs. The tile on the left features a garuda. The middle tile has a depiction of a rare mythical animal, and the tile on the right features a kalavinka, a creature with a human head and the body of a bird. The circumference of each tile is lined with beads. The tiles at either end have a diameter of 14.5 cm, while the tile in the middle has a diameter of 9.7 cm. |
