Tripitaka Koreana
An monumental collection of Buddhist scriptures carved onto 81,352 wooden printing blocks, preserving the oldest intact version of the Chinese Buddhist canon in pristine condition after more than 750 years.
At a glance
The Tripitaka Koreana comprises 1,496 titles divided into 6,568 books spanning 81,258 pages with 52,330,152 Hanja characters. Each wooden block measures 24 cm in height and 70 cm in length, weighing three to four kilograms. The complete collection weighs 280 tons and, if stacked, would reach 2.74 kilometers high.
History
Created during the 13th century by Korean Buddhist monks, the Tripitaka Koreana represents one of the most ambitious printing projects in East Asian history. It served as the definitive record of Buddhist teachings shared across East Asian Buddhism, written in Buddhist Chinese. The blocks remained at Haeinsa temple, their home for centuries, preserving the sacred texts through war, climate, and time.
What you see
Visitors encounter row upon row of meticulously carved wooden blocks, each precisely cut and joined without warping or deformation. The wood blocks display remarkable craftsmanship—their uniform dimensions and durable composition enabled them to survive environmental stress. The characters carved into each block remain crisp and readable, testimony to the quality of materials and technique employed during their creation.
Cultural significance
The Tripitaka Koreana stands as the most complete surviving version of the Chinese Buddhist canon, making it invaluable to Buddhist scholarship and East Asian religious history. Its creation reflects the deep commitment of the Goryeo dynasty to preserving Buddhist knowledge. The collection demonstrates the sophisticated printing technology and organizational systems of medieval Korea.
Key facts
- Location: Haeinsa temple, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
- Coordinates: 35.8°N, 128.1°E
- Designated National Treasure of South Korea: 1962
- Inscribed UNESCO Memory of the World: 2007
- Total wooden blocks: 81,352
- Total weight: 280 tons
Practical information & getting there
The Tripitaka Koreana is housed at Haeinsa, a functioning Buddhist temple in South Gyeongsang Province. Historically restricted to Buddhist events and scholars, the collection opened to the general public in 2021 by advance registration. Contact Haeinsa directly for current visiting hours, registration requirements, and access information.
Sources & resources
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