Tripitaka Koreana

Tripitaka Koreana is a collection of Buddhist scriptures on more than 80,000 wooden blocks at Haeinsa Temple in South Gyeongsang, South Korea. The blocks rest on wooden shelves in two long storage halls, with each block measuring roughly 28 inches (70 cm) in length and 9 inches (24 cm) in width, bearing 23 lines of text.

The carving began in 1236 during the Goryeo Dynasty as a spiritual response to Mongol invasions and was completed in 1251. The blocks replaced an earlier edition that had been destroyed during the war with the Khitan in 1232.

The name combines the Sanskrit word for the three divisions of Buddhist teachings with a reference to Korea, though visitors now refer to it simply as the wooden printing blocks. Each character was hand-carved by monks who worked in teams, checking and rechecking every stroke to ensure accuracy across the entire collection.

Visitors view the blocks through glass windows in the storage halls, as direct access is restricted to protect the wooden surfaces. The temple sits on a mountain slope, requiring moderate physical effort when ascending from parking areas and lower entrance zones.

The storage halls use windows of different sizes on front and back sides to create natural air circulation that regulates humidity. Not a single block shows signs of insect damage or mold, even though no modern climate control or chemical treatments are used.