Keumgang-yeoksa, Gate-Guarding Buddhist Devas

Granite: relief on the wall of the entrance to the Seok-gu-ram Grotto (Cave Temple), Kyeongju. The Keumgang-Yeoksa are regarded as supernatural beings in Buddhism that guard the gates of the temple. In Korea, similarities have been drawn between the posture of the Gate Guardians and the Taekwondo basic posture. Some claim that the very existence of these beings in Buddhism and depicted in every Buddhist branch in Asia is originally from the Greek legendary being: Heracles. The Seokguram grotto is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage and as the Korean National Treasure number 24. The Seokguram Grotto was initiated in 751 by King Kyeongdeok of Silla and completed by his son in 774 by King Hyegong of Silla. The Grotto was built to illustrate the moment when Sakyamuni achieved the Enlightenment. Sculpture from the time of Unified Silla (668 - 935)

Achieved Basic Beings Buddha Buddhism Buddhist Claim Deities Deity Devas Enlightenment Granite Grotto Guardians Heavenly Heracles Hyegong Illustrate Initiated Kyeongdeok Kyeongju Legendary Posture Regarded Registered Sakyamuni Seok-gu-ram Seokguram Silla Similarities Supernatural Taekwondo Unified

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