A bridge across millennia

During this period, a steady stream of envoys, students, monks and merchants traveled between the two places, particularly between their respective capitals: Seorabeol (modern-day Gyeongju) in the Silla Kingdom and Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an) in the Tang Dynasty, Bai said.

Among them, the journey of the monk named Yuance, known as Woncheuk in Korean, created a cultural bridge between Xi'an and Gyeongju that endures to this day.

Yuance, from the capital of the Silla Kingdom, entered monastic life at a very young age, Bai said. When he was 15, he traveled to Chang'an, where he dedicated himself to Buddhist studies for decades, ultimately becoming a renowned monk.

"Yuance was one of the earliest and most influential monks from Silla to study in Chang'an, stayed the longest, authored numerous texts, and participated in official scripture translation projects. He helped build an early bridge for Buddhist exchanges between Tang and Silla, paving the way for many more who followed," Bai said.

This ancient connection is not just confined to history books. Xingjiao Temple in Xi'an, which houses Yuance's relics, has maintained ties with Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, with continuing personnel exchanges between the two sides.