Under the influence of the Chinese Emperor, the establishment of the Silla Kingdom resulted in a unified Korea in the year 668 (around the time of the Tang Dynasty in China) and lasted until approximately the year 935. Silla rulers supported Buddhism, establishing it as Korea’s official religion, and embraced Buddhist architecture, though no structures from the Silla Kingdom survive.

Overlapping slightly with the Unified Silla Kingdom was the succeeding Koryo Kingdom (sometimes spelled Goryeo), which began in the year 918 and lasted until 1392. Artists from the Koryo period were known for their refined ceramics.