Draft Printing Culture

Title	Korean Printing Technology

1차 원고

In the 8th century, Korea produced the oldest existing printed scroll using wood block carving. The oldest existing book printed by movable metal types was also published in Korea in the 14th century. The latter, the second volume of the Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings (Buljo Jikji Simgyeol Yochae(“Jikji”)), is registered as the UNESCO World Record Heritage.

When Buddhism prospered in Silla from the 5th century, devout believers began to read and revere printed Buddhist sutras. Wood block carving printing technology was developed to produce copies efficiently. It became popular among wealthy devotees to donate a copy of Dharani, Buddhist mantra, to be kept in sacred places like the cavity inside a Buddha statute or a stupa.

Thus, a printed scroll containing the Great Dharani Sutra of Immaculate and Pure Light, known as Mugu Jeonggwang Dae Dharani Gyeong, was found inside cavity of Shakamuni Stupa at Bulguk Temple in Gyeongju, when the stupa was disassembled for renovation in 1966. Since the Shakamuni Stupa was building from 704 – 751, the scroll was likely to have been printed prior to 751, making it the oldest existing printed document. The print was clean and clear, showing the advanced wood carving and printing technology at the time. By the 9th century, books other than Buddhist sutras were published using such technology.

Wood block printing flourished through Goryeo Dynasty that defeated Unified Silla in the 10th century. The massive wood block carving project in the early 13th century yielded the first edition of the Great Buddhist Tripitaka. Unfortunately, the carved wooden blocks were burnt down during the Monggol Invasion. The Goryeo government initiated a new project to carve the entire Tripitaka. The entire Buddhist sutras, commentaries and regulations carved on more than 80,000 wooden plates, are preserved at Haeinsa Temple to become a UNESCO World Heritage.

Korea invented metal movable type and used to print books. Jikji was printed at a Buddhist temple at Cheongju, Korea, in 1377, about sixty years before Gutenberg’s printing in Germany. The Buddhist text was in two volumes, but only the second volume was found. A French diplomat acquired the book and took to his country in the late 19th century. Registered as a World Record Heritage by UNESCO, it is now a collection of the National Library of France. There are written references to a book printed in Korea using metal movable types 147 years before Jikji, but there is no existing copy.

감수본

In the 8th century, Korea produced the oldest existing scroll printed using woodblock carving.

When Buddhism prospered in the Silla Kingdom from the 6th century, devout believers began to read and revere printed Buddhist sutras. Carved-woodblock printing technology was developed to produce copies efficiently. It became popular among wealthy devotees to donate a copy of a Dharani, or Buddhist mantra, to be kept in sacred places like the cavity inside a Buddha statute or a stupa.

Thus, a printed scroll containing the Great Dharani Sutra of Immaculate and Pure Light was found inside the cavity of the Sakyamuni Pagoda at Bulguk Temple in Gyeongju, when it was disassembled for renovation in 1966. Since it was built in 704-51, the scroll was likely to have been printed prior to 751, making it the oldest existing printed document. The print was clean and clear, showing the advanced woodcarving and printing technology of that time. By the 9th century, books other than Buddhist sutras were published using such technology.

Woodblock printing flourished through the Goryeo Dynasty that followed Unified Silla in the 10th century. A massive woodblock carving project in the early 13th century yielded the first edition of the Great Buddhist Tripitaka carved on woodblocks, but they were tragically burnt during the Mongol Invasion. The Goryeo government initiated a new project to carve the entire Tripitaka. All of the Buddhist sutras, commentaries and regulations were carved on more than 81,000 wooden plates, and are still preserved at Haeinsa Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Korea invented metal movable type and used it to print books, at least sixty years before Gutenberg’s printing in Germany. The oldest existing book printed by movable metal type was printed at a Buddhist temple at Cheongju, Korea, in 1377. The Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings (Buljo Jikji Simgyeol Yochae) was published in two volumes, but only the second volume was found. A French diplomat acquired the book and took to his country in the late 19th century, and it is now in the collection of the National Library of France. That second volume is registered on the UNESCO World Record Heritage List. There are written references to a book printed in Korea using metal movable type 147 years before the Jikji, but there is no existing copy.