Attraction Guide: Heungdeok Temple Site, Cheongju, South Korea

Heungdeok Temple Site Guide

Heungdeok Temple Site: Tracing the Roots of Korean Printing Guide

Delve into the heart of Korean printing history at the Heungdeok Temple Site in Cheongju. This unassuming location holds immense significance as the place where the Jikji, the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, was created. While the temple itself no longer stands, the site serves as a poignant reminder of Korea's pioneering role in printing technology and its contribution to global knowledge dissemination. Heungdeok Temple was founded during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), a period of significant cultural and intellectual flourishing in Korea. It was here, in 1377, that Buddhist monks meticulously crafted the Jikji, a collection of Zen Buddhist teachings, using movable metal type. This groundbreaking achievement predates Gutenberg's printing press by nearly 80 years. The Jikji is now a UNESCO Memory of the World item, recognized for its historical and cultural importance. While the temple itself was lost to time, the site has been carefully preserved and developed into a memorial park. Visitors to the Heungdeok Temple Site can explore the Jikji Culture Hall, which showcases the history of printing technology and the significance of the Jikji. The hall features exhibits on the process of creating movable metal type, replicas of the Jikji, and information on the temple's history. The site also includes a reconstructed printing workshop, where visitors can witness demonstrations of traditional printing techniques. While there are no specific culinary traditions associated with the site itself, you can find traditional Korean restaurants in the surrounding area.