The gentle eyebrows, noble nose,   long ears and tightly curled hair   testify to the profound wisdom of   the Buddha, portrayed here in white   granite at Sokkuram Grotto in   Kyongju, North Kyongsang Province.   Sokkuram is the largest Buddhist   Grotto in Korea and home to some   of the finest masterpieces of   Korea's Buddhist art.

Construction of the grotto was launched in 751 A.D. by Kim Tae-song, Prime Minister of the Shilla Kingdom, as a memorial to his dead parents. Construction was completed in 774. Buddhist grottoes are generally believed to have originated in ancient India. Sokkuram is a chaitya-style grotto, that is, a sanctuary lined with pillars and statues with a stupa at its focal point. It is considered one of the most outstanding Buddhist grottoes because of its ingenious dimensions, exceptional sculpturing techniques and unique spatial arrangement.