Tripitaka Koreana

The Tripitaka Koreana is created in the Goryeo Buddhist canon, which was printed in 6000 volumes with 81,258 woodblocks. Due to the number of pieces of printing blocks it is usually eighty thousand Tripitaka ( 팔만 대장경 [ p ʰ almandɛʝaŋk'jəŋ ] ) called. The production of the whole wood printing blocks lasted 16 years ( 1236-1251 ).

These woodblocks are the second Korean version of the 13th century, after the Mongols had recently destroyed the first. It was / n edited in the block printing process, although in Korea of movable type printing in the 12th century was invented, printing blocks were regarded as less sensitive.

They are considered one of the oldest surviving Buddhist scriptures. The recording of the Buddhist canon comes from the Goryeo Dynasty (935-1392 AD). Today, the printing blocks are kept in Janggyeong - Panjeon, a building in the Haeinsa Temple, 1488 at the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910 ) was built. This hall is equipped with a ventilation system, so that all wood printing plates have remained undamaged. The Tripitaka Koreana was in 1962 declared a national treasure number 32 and is since 1995 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Data at a glance

• 81,258 printing plates
• Production time: 16 years ( 1236 to 1251 )
• Material: wood cherry, Birnbaum
• Measure on average: Length: 68-78 cm Width: 24 cm Thickness: 2.8 cm Weight: 3 - 3.5 kg
• Row / Column: 23 Lines / 13 S. depending on one page 322 characters