Haeinsa Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks to Be Digitally Accessible... Cultural Heritage Administration DB Initiative
Establishing Conservation Measures Through Basic Academic Research
Plan to Provide Web Services Easily Accessible to Everyone
The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 18th that it will establish a digital database (DB) for the 'Hapcheon Haeinsa Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks,' a national treasure and a UNESCO Memory of the World. They plan to provide a web service that anyone can easily use.
The Tripitaka Koreana (Palman Daejanggyeong, 八萬大藏經) is a set of Buddhist scriptures carved onto wooden blocks over 16 years, from 1236 to 1251. It was created to seek the Buddha's power to repel the Mongol invasions. The woodblocks have been stored in Janggyeongpanjeon (藏經板殿), the oldest building at Haeinsa Temple. The Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks were registered as a UNESCO Memory of the World in 2007, and Janggyeongpanjeon was designated a World Heritage Site in 1995, recognizing their value.
The contents carved on the woodblocks were printed with ink and bound into printed editions (In-gyeongbon, 印經本), which were enshrined in major temples. Currently, only some domestic copies and those transmitted to Japan during the Goryeo period remain. Since they do not have a complete composition and content, the general public has been practically unable to access them.
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The Cultural Heritage Administration is taking the first step toward building the digital DB by preparing preservation measures through basic academic research. They will scientifically investigate the records and preservation status of the woodblocks. Then, each woodblock will be precisely photographed, and traditional printed editions will be produced and digitized (scanned) in detail. The web service for utilizing the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks will be developed starting next year. A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "Anyone will be able to easily view the woodblocks and fully enjoy their value."
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