Tripitaka Koreana

1
Tripitaka Koreana

• Korean National Treasure
• Spiritual Code Carved in Wood

2
Tripitaka Koreana

• Complete Buddhist Canon
• Worlds oldest surviving collection of carved
  woodblocks
• Approx. 80,000 woodblocks
• Housed at Haeinsa Temple

3
Tripitaka Koreana

• UNESCOs World Heritage list
• Universal significance
• Uniqueness
• Technological excellence
• Artistic excellence
• Importance to study of Buddhism

4
What does the Tripitaka tell us about

• Geography?
• Politics?
• Character
• Culture?
• Religion

5
Geography

• Tripitaka housed at Haeinsa Temple
• Ideal site according to geomancy
• SW midslope of Kayasan
• Water at foot of mt.
• Resembles ship about to set sail for Paradise

6
Politics

• 5,000 Woodblocks carved 1011
  
  
  Just after invasion of Khitan soldiers
• 2nd ed. of 1,000 volumes, 36 years later
• 50 years later 4,740 more volumes
• Carved to unite people ensure Buddhas
  protection against invaders

7
Politics

• 1232 Mongols invaded
• Burned all the woodblocks
• King ordered them re-carved

8
Character

• 4 years after Mongol devastation in 1232
• 80,000 resolute Koreans carved Tripitaka again as
  act of defiance
• 80,000 woodblocks carved which are in useable
  shape today

9
Culture

• Advanced state of environmental science 1,000
  years ago
• Ideal siting of repository
• Carving of Blocks

10
Carving of the Blocks

• White birch soaked in seawater
• Ends fitted with bronze plates
• Chinese Characters pictures drawn to guide
  carving

11
Repository buildings

• Exposed to SW to prevent humid wind from direct
  entry
• North of repository to steep cliffs
• Keeps north wind out
• 655 meters above sea level
• Moisture rising from valleys evaporates
• Ideal humidity

12
Repository buildings

• Not in permanent shadow
• Sunlight reaches ground year round
• Windows arranged to facilitate steady air
  circulation
• Design promotes constant temperature, humidity,
  ventilation year round

13
Religion

• Importance of Buddhism to Korean People
• Moral compass during Koryo Silla periods
• Temples at propitious sites to strengthen power
  of kingdom

14
Religion

• Tripitaka canon reflected fervent desire of
  Koreans to defend homeland against Mongol
  invaders
• Relying on faith in Buddhas blessing

15
Religion

• 3 temples3 treasures
• Buddha
• DharmaBuddhas teachings
• Sanghamonks who practice Buddhas teachings

16
Religion

• Importance revealed through lives thought of
  monks
• Buddhism state religion of Koryo Dynasty
  (918-1392)
• Korean scholars traveled to China India to
  study
• Monks introduced Buddhism to Japan 551 CE

17
Religion

• Monk Chongnim leads team to digitalize