[RAS Korea] Visit to Korea's early printing treasures

Pages from Jikji / Taken from PDF file

By Steven L. Shields

One of Korea's lesser-known, but incredible cultural treasures is a small printed book. The book is ordinary in size and appearance ― about 24 cm by 17 cm, about the size of a modern-day paperbound book found in bookstores. The book is about 3 cm thick and contains about 40 leaves. The paper is lightweight, printed on one side, folded in the middle and bound with thread on the right-hand edge. Most books from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom looked about the same.

The book contained an anthology of Buddhist teachings and was an essential introduction for students of Buddhism in the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom. Originally in two volumes, the book had been printed at least twice in the space of five or six years. The earlier printings are lost to history, as is the first volume of the treasured tome. The book is called "Baegun hwasang chorok buljo jikji simche yojeol." In modern days, scholars refer to it as "Jikji." There is only one existing copy.

Early French diplomat Collin de Plancy bought the book in Seoul sometime in the late 1880s or early 1890s while he was serving in Korea. After he died in France many years later, the book was bought from de Plancy's estate by a French collector. When the collector died in 1943, his estate gave this precious and rare book to the French National Library, where it was cataloged, protected and forgotten.

The main entrance of the Early Printing Museum at Cheongju / Photo courtesy of Steven L. Shields

"Jikji" is unique in that it is the oldest existing book that was printed with movable metal type. It was printed in 1377, now 643 years ago. The rediscovery of the book has focused the lights of history on the city of Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, where it was printed at Heungdeok Temple. We don't know how many copies of the book were printed and delivered; there must have been many. What twist of fate preserved a printed book through the challenges of time?

Movable-type had been around for almost 400 years when "Jikji" was printed. Of course, other printing methods were more commonly used, notably carved wooden printing blocks. History notes that in China, movable porcelain type was developed around 1000 CE. We also know that in Goryeo, metallic movable type was in use in the 1200s, mainly cast bronze. Many handfuls of type are preserved in museums throughout Korea.

The printing method used with the movable type, be it porcelain or bronze, was much the same as used with carved wooden printing blocks (the best known of these are the 80,000 Tripitaka Koreana at Haein Temple). The block was placed on the worktable, ink daubed onto the type, a sheet of paper laid across and pressed or rubbed to transfer the ink. The process was repeated as many times as copies were wanted. With the woodblocks, the printer needed as many as there were sheets in a book. The preparation of the wood and carving (in reverse) took a long time. With movable type, the individual pieces were laid in a block frame, divided into lines. The matrix was likely filled with a sticky substance, perhaps wax. A full sheet of type could be "set" in a few hours rather than the months it took to prepare and carve the woodblocks. Movable metal type would eventually revolutionize book printing.

"Jikji" was written by the Buddhist monk, Baekun (1298-1374). The first printing was done in 1372 at Mount Seongbul, but no copies are known. The contents are an anthology of the most excellent teachings of Seon Buddhism (known by some as "zen"). A woodblock printed version of both volumes exists, and copies are preserved in several places in Korea, including the Academy of Korean Studies.

The 1377 edition of "Jikji" was rediscovered in France by Dr. Park Byeong-seon (d. 2011) when she was working as a librarian in the French National Library during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The book was reintroduced to the world in 1972 during an exhibit in Paris commemorating the International Book Year, hosted by the National Library of France. Dr. Park's efforts brought worldwide attention to "Jikji" and the existence of movable metal type printing long before such a method appeared in Europe. Thus, history was revised with new data. Many know of Gutenberg and his production of a Bible using movable metal type more than 70 years after Jikji was printed. History now knows that Gutenberg's real contribution to book printing was his invention of a printing press that mechanized and sped up book production. His technology was used for centuries, with only slight variations and automation. Indeed, some specialty printers today continue to use movable type and printing presses, not unlike Gutenberg's.

On the final page of the 1377 "Jikji," the printers included the date and place where the printing was completed ― July 1377 at Heungdeok Temple, outside Cheongju. Since the book's rediscovery, archaeologists and historians have conducted extensive research at the site of the temple. It was rebuilt, and a museum dedicated to the early printing history of Korea was opened in 1992. Since 2000 "Jikji" has been the central theme of the museum. A digitized copy of the book is available at gallica.bnf.fr, from the National Library of France. A great world treasure from Korea!

Steven L. Shields, a retired cleric, serves as a vice president of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea and is a columnist for The Korea Times. Visit raskb.com for information about the society's lectures and other events, as well as its large electronic library.