The Tripitaka Koreana is one of the most important cultural treasures in Korea. It is a massive collection of Buddhist scriptures carved onto wooden printing blocks, which are stored in Haeinsa Temple on Gayasan Mountain. The Tripitaka Koreana is famous for its historical importance, detailed craftsmanship, and excellent condition. Because of its value, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1995.

The woodblocks were created during the Goryeo Dynasty between 1236 and 1251. At the time, Korea was suffering from repeated Mongol invasions, and many people believed the project would help protect the country and bring peace and prosperity.

The collection consists of roughly 81,000 wooden printing blocks and contains more than 52 million Chinese characters. Creating such a massive project required years of dedication and careful labor.

The Tripitaka Koreana is admired for its unbelievable accuracy and craftsmanship. Skilled workers carved every character by hand with remarkable precision, and experts have discovered very few mistakes in the collection. Much of the project’s success is credited to the National Preceptor* Sugi, a Buddhist monk who supervised the editing and organization of the scriptures. His careful leadership helped make the Tripitaka Koreana one of the finest examples of woodblock printing in history.

For the last several centuries, the Tripitaka Koreana has been protected by officials at Haeinsa Temple. The woodblocks are currently stored in special wooden buildings called Janggyeong Panjeon, which naturally control temperature and humidity. The buildings were designed with carefully placed windows that allow air to flow through, preventing moisture, insect infestations, and other damages.

Recently, Haeinsa Temple began a new project to recreate the woodblocks using modern technology. The goal is to preserve the spirit and history of the Tripitaka Koreana for future generations to enjoy.

* Tripitaka Koreana 팔만대장경

* National Preceptor 대사 (승려를 높여 이르는 말)