Printing and Documentary Heritage

At a glance

The theme on the map

19 events in this theme

1. AD 751Great Dharani Sutra of Immaculate and Pure Light

   A sutra scroll found inside the Seokgatap pagoda of Bulguksa, counted among the oldest surviving woodblock prints in the world.

2. 1011 – 1087Carving the First Tripitaka

   Hoping the Buddha’s power would repel the Khitans, Goryeo began carving the Buddhist canon under Hyeonjong and finished it decades later; the blocks burned in the Mongol invasion of 1232.

3. 1234Metal-type Printing of the Sangjeong gogeum yemun

   Yi Gyu-bo’s collected works record that, after the move to Ganghwa, 28 copies of the ritual code Sangjeong gogeum yemun were printed with metal type. No copy survives.

4. 1236 – 1251Carving the Tripitaka Koreana

   Hoping the Buddha’s power would drive out the Mongols, Goryeo set up a Tripitaka directorate on Ganghwa and spent 16 years carving more than 80,000 woodblocks, now kept at Haeinsa in Hapcheon.

5. 1377Printing of the Jikji

   The Jikji was printed with metal type at Heungdeoksa in Cheongju; it is the oldest extant book printed with movable metal type.

6. 1403Gyemi type cast

   King Taejong set up the Type Foundry (Jujaso) and cast the Gyemi type, the first metal movable type made in Joseon.

7. 1413Compilation of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty begins

   Under King Taejong the Annals of King Taejo were compiled, beginning the practice of compiling each king’s annals after his death. They cover 472 years, from Taejo to Cheoljong, in chronological form.

8. 1434Gabin type cast

   Sejong had Yi Cheon, Jang Yeong-sil and others cast a new bronze type, the Gabin type, which became the model of Joseon movable type.

9. 1446Promulgation of Hunminjeongeum

   King Sejong published Hunminjeongeum, a new script he created for ordinary people.

10. 1592 – 1598Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary of Yi Sun-sin)

    The diary Yi Sun-sin kept in camp through the seven years of the Imjin War; Memory of the World since 2013.

11. 1601Uigwe: The Royal Protocols of Joseon

    Illustrated records of royal weddings, funerals, investitures and building works, in text and pictures; Memory of the World since 2007.

12. 1610Dongui bogam completed

    Heo Jun completed the 25-volume medical encyclopedia Dongui bogam, drawing on Korean herbs and remedies; it is on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register.

13. 1623 – 1910Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Diaries of the Royal Secretariat)

    The daily journal of the Royal Secretariat, which handled royal orders — among the largest single historical records in the world.

14. 1760 – 1910Ilseongnok (Records of Daily Reflections)

    A royal diary that grew out of the journal Jeongjo kept as crown grandson; Memory of the World since 2011.

15. 1866French campaign against Korea

    Citing the persecution of Catholics, a French squadron occupied Ganghwa. Yang Heon-su drove it off at Jeongjok Fortress, and the French withdrew with looted royal archives.

16. 1940Discovery of the Hunminjeongeum Haerye

    The Haerye edition of the Hunminjeongeum, published in 1446, came to light in Andong, revealing for the first time the principles behind the Korean alphabet.

17. 1970Saemaul Movement

    A government-led movement for diligence, self-help and cooperation to improve rural living conditions and incomes, later extended to cities and factories.

18. 1980May 18 Democratic Uprising

    From 18 to 27 May 1980, in Gwangju, martial-law troops used force against citizens demanding an end to martial law and to the new military group, and many citizens were killed.

19. 2011Return of the Oegyujanggak Uigwe

    The 297 volumes of uigwe looted from the Oegyujanggak by French troops in 1866 came back after 145 years.

Key people

• Yi Gyu-bo1168 – 1241

  Writer of the Lay of King Dongmyeong whose collected works record the metal-type printing of the Sangjeong gogeum yemun

• Choe U1249

  Son of Choe Chung-heon who set up the Jeongbang personnel office and moved the court to Ganghwa in 1232

• 
  Taejong (Yi Bang-won)1367 – 1422

  Third king of Joseon, who seized power in the Strifes of Princes and strengthened royal authority

• 
  Sejong the Great1397 – 1450

  Fourth king of Joseon, creator of Hangul, patron of science and of the northern frontier

• 
  Jeongjo1752 – 1800

  Twenty-second king of Joseon, founder of the Gyujanggak library and builder of Hwaseong Fortress

• King HyeonjongAD 992 – 1031

  Eighth king of Goryeo, who weathered the second and third Khitan invasions and began the first Tripitaka

• King Gojong of Goryeo1192 – 1259

  Twenty-third king of Goryeo, who reigned through the Mongol invasions from Ganghwa Island

• 
  Jang Yeong-sil

  Scientist of humble birth who built the self-striking water clock for Sejong and helped make astronomical instruments

• Jeong In-ji1396 – 1478

  Jiphyeonjeon scholar who wrote the preface to the Hunminjeongeum haerye and led the compilation of the Goryeosa

• 
  Seong Sam-mun1418 – 1456

  Hall of Worthies scholar executed for plotting to restore Danjong; one of the Six Martyred Ministers

• Sin Suk-ju1417 – 1475

  Jiphyeonjeon scholar who helped create Hunminjeongeum, wrote the Haedong jegukgi after a mission to Japan, and became Chief State Councillor under Sejo

• 
  Yi Sun-sin1545 – 1598

  Admiral of the Joseon navy, victorious at Okpo, Hansando and Myeongnyang