Jikji, the Oldest Document Printed with Moving Metal - Korea Recognized by UNESCO

Kapanlagi.com - The printing of moving metal is the greatest invention in the past 1000 years. This is also recognized by major media such as Time Magazine, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. With this type of printing, the public can become actors in producing and expanding information rather than just being recipients of one-sided information. The revolutionary value of printing with moving metal as a means of disseminating information becomes even more significant with the current Internet era.

However, it turns out that there is one country that first developed the extraordinary printing of moving metal. That country is Korea. Many believed that the 42-line Gutenberg Bible was the oldest printed book made in 1455 in Germany.

1. Recognized by UNESCO

Jikji Korea Festival in 2016 © Yonhap News

However, it turns out that there was Jikji published using movable metal type in Korea in 1377, or exactly 78 years before Gutenberg. Although its original form is not preserved, according to some documents, another book titled Sangjeong Yemun (Detailed and Authentic Code of Rituals and Etiquette) was made with metal type around 1230.

As reported by korea.prkorea.com, the movable metal type printing made in Korea had a significant influence in Asia, including Japan. In the 16th century, two Japanese books titled Jikei Kyouki and Kangakumon mentioned the fact that Korean copper type and woodblock printing were passed on to Japan.

In 2001, UNESCO included Jikji Korea in the Memory of the World Program. Since then, Jikji has gradually become known worldwide. In the 21st century, Korea has grown into one of the best IT powerhouses in the world. This is possible because of a great invention like movable metal type printing. Have any of you KLovers heard of it before?

(kpl/mit)