One is through Cheongun & Baegungyo Bridge in the east leading to Hall of Sakyamuni, and the other is through Yeonhwa & Chilbogyo Bridge in the west that is a bridge connected to Anyangmun Gate leading to Geungnakjeon (the temple of abode land).
Bulguksa Temple's Cheongun & Baegungyo Bridge is connected Jahamun Gate leading to the Hall of Sakyamuni, standing for connecting the world for the common people under the bridge and the one for Buddha over it.
It is made of 33 steps, representing 33 heavens in Buddhism.
The 33 steps mean not reaching the phase of Buddha yet, so the staircase also can be said to be 'bridge of hope', or 'bridge of pleasure and blessing'.
There are 17 steps of Cheongungyo Bridge at the lower part, and 16 steps of Baegungyo Bridge at the upper part.
It is sometimes compared to life, the former standing for the green youth and the latter the white-haired elders.
The structure is unique in bridge-shaped staircase, and the climbing slope is elaborately trimmed in 45。.
And since the under part of the bridge is rainbow-shaped arch, it make smooth and vital the view that is harden by the rectilinear lines.
It is said that there was a pond under the reinforcing stonewall where the bridge is.
Even now, we can see a device for felling down water on the left of the staircase.
It is said that when water was falling from here, a rainbow was made due to the spray of a waterfall.
From this, we can imagine that the Bulguksa Temple was very beautiful once upon a time.
This bridge seems to have been built in the 10th year (750) of King Gyeongdeok in the United Silla Dynasty.
It is a very precious relic because it is the only bridge that remains with a perfect form among the bridges in Silla Era.
Furthermore, the rainbow-shaped arch of the under part is also an important matter in that it shows the beginning time of arch in stone bridges or place gates.
