Completed in the 7th century, the enormous 9-story structure was built entirely with wood with interlocking design with no iron nails.

"[2] Archaeological excavations and other scientific studies of the temple began in April 1976 (OCPRI[clarification needed] 1984) and continue today.

A replica of the building called Hwangnyongwon (황룡원) now exists in Gyeongju, within the Bomun Tourism Complex.

[5] Hwangnyongsa was designed to be a place where monks prayed for the welfare of the nation by asking for the divine protection of the Buddha and a means to impress foreign dignitaries.

The nine stories supposedly represented the nine nations of East Asia and Silla's future conquest of those states.

No wooden architecture from the Silla people survives today but the ruins of Hwangnyongsa suggest a Goguryeo influence.

Legend has it that when Ichadon was executed, a series of miracles occurred which proved the power and reality of the Buddhist faith, and the nobles converted to the new state religion.