[Exploring for project] Experiment of protecting culture #2 _VANK_protecting Jikji

Jeeyoon park blog for sharing Jikji:  https://june016.wixsite.com/jikji

EXPLORING JIKJI

What I'm Protecting Now

The world's oldest movable metal type printing called Jikji

More about jikji

What is Jikji?

The original title of Jikji is Baegun hwasang chorok buljo jikjisimcheyojeol which means literally that Baegun hwasang copied and recorded meaning of Buddha’s the most important words, Jikji. Jikji’s writer and publisher were different. Baegun hwasang was the writer. Venerable Baegun was born in 1289 and became a Buddhist monk in his early age. He was the Seon* master and passed away in 1374. After his death, his pupils, Seok-chan and Daljam printed this book with movable metal type in 1377. Biguni**, Myodeok sponsored them by offering.

Buddha’s the most important words, Jikji is abbreviation of Jikji-insim-gyeonsong-songbul which means you may realize the original nature of mind through meditation, and you can attain Enlightenment. It can be literally translated by several meanings: indicating accurately, honest mind and managing directly.

Content of this book is the collection of Buddhist treatises and teachings. Baegun’s pupils printed first and last volume of this book at Heungdeoksa temple of Cheongju city. Only last volume of this book was found and this volume has been kept in the National Library of France.

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Where can we find jikji?

The first French ambassador to Korea, Collin de Plancy collected it and brought to France when he returned to his mother country. After his death, his collection was auctioned. A curio collector, Henri Vever bought and kept it. By Henri’s will, Jikji was donated to the National Library of France.

The Korean historian, Dr. Byeong-seon, Park who was working for this library discovered it. Jikji was displayed in 1972 at Special Exhibition for ‘Book’ in Paris. There, experts recognized the value of the book. Jikji turned out the oldest existing book ever printed with movable metal type.

Dr. Byeong-seon, Park