Search Buddhist Channel
Jikji, The First Metal-Printed Book Predating Gutenberg’s Bible
The Buddhist Channel, 14 June 2024
Seoul, South Korea -- Jikji (Korean: 직지), the abbreviation of a Korean Buddhist document, whose full title can be translated as "Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings", holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving metal-printed book. Printed in Korea in 1377, it predates Gutenberg’s Bible by 77 years.
Contrary to popular belief, the first printing press was invented in Korea, not by Gutenberg. The Koreans used a movable cast metal printing press to print Jikji, long before Gutenberg’s Bible was printed in the 1450s.
Jikji, short for ‘Jikji Simche Yojeol’ — meaning ‘Essential Passages Pointing Directly to the Mind’ — is a collection of Buddhist treatises, laws, and scriptures. It was printed during the Goryeo Dynasty by Buddhist monks who were disciples of Master Baegun. UNESCO recognized Jikji as the oldest extant metalloid type of printed text in 2001. The only surviving copy is in the National Library of France.
Printing in China and Korea dates back to the 8th century AD. During the Goryeo period, Korean Buddhist monks undertook the arduous task of printing the Tripitaka Koreana, a massive collection of Buddhist scriptures, using meticulously carved wooden blocks.
This effort was driven by the monks' desire to invoke Buddha's protection during times of invasions by the Khitans and Mongols. The wooden blocks, which numbered over 80,000, were cured and preserved using sophisticated techniques and are still intact today at Haeinsa Buddhist Temple in southwest Korea.
The process involved soaking the birchwood blocks in seawater for three years, boiling them in saltwater, and exposing them to the wind in the shade for another three years before carving. The blocks were then polished with an insect-repellent lacquer and stored in a well-designed depository at Haeinsa Temple, ensuring their preservation to this day.
Jikji’s journey to France began in the late 19th century when Victor Collin de Plancy, the French consul in Seoul and an avid art collector, acquired several hundred ancient Korean books, including Jikji. He sold Jikji to Henri Vever in 1911, who bequeathed it to the National Library of France in 1950. Jikji is rarely displayed, with its most recent public viewing in 2023.
This remarkable book highlights an important aspect of East Asian, particularly South Korean, history that has often been overlooked.
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.
Dear Friends in the Dharma,
We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.
Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:
One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.
How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.
Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.
Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.
Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.
Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.
Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!
May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,
With deepest gratitude,
Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team
Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau
We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.
If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv