Printing Woodblocks of Miscellaneous Buddhist Scriptures in Haeinsa Temple, Hapcheon

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.206

Category

Books & Records

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1982

Location

합천군, 경상남도— 경남 합천군 가야면 해인사길 122, 해인사 (치인리)

Coordinates

35.801183, 128.098016

These are woodblocks carved during the Goryeo Period and currently kept in Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do. It contains Buddhist scriptures, works of prominent monks, and collection of poems and writings. Unlike the Tripitaka Koreana (National Treasure No. 32) produced by Daejangdogam, a central government agency, these woodblocks are carved either by local government or by individual temple. They are now sealed in the East and West Print Hall, the storages located between the places where the Tripitaka Koreana is kept. Since the woodblocks are carved after dipping the boards of silver magnolia into salty water to remove fat and smooth down the grain, their original form was preserved intact. The woodblocks contain various scriptures of Mahayanist Buddhism, including Geumgang Sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra as well as the collections of poems and other writings by prominent monks and individuals from the Silla and Goryeo Period. Most of these scriptures include the account of publication, revealing the way they were circulated and other trends of the Buddhist faith during the Goryeo Period. The collections of poems and writings, on the other hand, include no account about their publication and most of them are presented in incomplete sets. Nonetheless, these materials are of historical importance because of their rareness. They are considered as important materials in studying not only the woodblock print and the art of engraving in the Goryeo Period but also the history of Buddhist philosophy and culture.

Location