United States of America Korean War Commemoration website

Throughout its history, Korea has been invaded, annexed, colonized and occupied by a variety of other countries. There is a Korean proverb that says a shrimp is crushed in a battle between whales. Korea has been the shrimp caught between whales on many occasions.

American world history textbook

Q: Koreans see their land as a “shrimp between whales”. Explain what this statement means.
A: When you look at a world map, you can understand why a Korean proverb refers to their land as a “shrimp between whales”. Throughout its history, Korea has served as a bridge between its powerful neighbors of China and Japan.

British tourism web portal

Surrounded by the economic and military giants of Japan, China and Russia, the South Korean peninsula has long been a ‘shrimp between whales’. Today it is a significant shrimp … but despite this, the ‘Hermit Kingdom’ still remains an unexplored gem. 

History of Japan and China = whales?
History of Korea = shrimp?

This is not the true history of Korea.
It is a distorted history.

Japanese Occupation Period (1910-1945)
Japan distorted Korean history to justify its invasion and colonial rule.

Distorted Korean history has been spread all over the world by Japan.

Korea has never been a cultural colony of Japan.
Rather, it was a major influence on the creation of ancient Japanese culture.

Japan’s Asuka culture was strongly influenced by the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje. China has made substantial effort to incorporate Korean history into Chinese history. Historically, many countries paid tribute to China, but China specifies that Korea was a tributary state.
 
Paying tribute by no means proves that Korea was subordinate to China. China was the dominant power in East Asia.

Tribute was a part of diplomatic policy that many Asian countries practiced to maintain their economic relations and cultural exchanges with China.

There is a record that Japan also tried to establish a tributary relationship with China.

China has spread the China-centered view of Korean history to incorporate the Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo and Balhae into Chinese history. Throughout its 5000 years of history, Korea was invaded multiple times by neighboring China and Japan.

However, Korea has never lost its autonomy, except during the Japanese Occupation Period. World history consists of numerous invasions and control by foreign powers.

Being invaded does not mean being colonized.

With this logic, every country in the world was ‘a colony’.
Korean history is not of a shrimp being crushed by foreign invasions and exploitation.
Korea was rather a hidden hero that changed the history of Asia and the world.
There is evidence that Korea stood in the middle of historic change in Asia and the world.

Metal Type Printing Technology

Recognized by Time Magazine, the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post
The Greatest Invention in the History of the World, Movable Metal Type Printing
Information and knowledge used to be the privilege of those in power.
Metal type printing brought change to this unfair system.

The Renaissance, the Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, and the Civil Revolution were all made possible due to the great invention of metal type printing.

Gutenberg’s 42-line Bible is widely thought to be the first book printed with movable metal type. However, there was another book that was printed 78 years before the Gutenberg Bible.

Jikji

Korea’s Jikji was officially recognized as the oldest book printed with movable metal type, and was included on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2001.

“Korea’s metal type printing technology didn’t have as much historical influence as Gutenberg’s.” Jikji is often devalued because it is relatively unknown. Actually, Jikji is the world’s greatest invention that changed the history of Asia and the world.

“We learned metal and wood type printing technology from Joseon.”
- Tokiyoshi-kyoki, Japanese book in the 16th century –

Jikji had a profound influence on the culture and history of Asia. Some metal type printing experts even suggest that Gutenberg imitated Korea’s printing technology. Korea’s printing history substantiates this claim.

Mugu Jeonggwang Dae Dharanigyeong (704)
The oldest extant printed book in the world 

Around 600 years later, in 1377
Printing of Jikji, the oldest printed book using metal type

Starting from Mugu Jeonggwang Dae Dharanigyeong to Jikji, Korea had over 600 years of printing experience. Experts say that metal type printing technology requires extensive knowledge and experience. It was impossible for Gutenberg to invent this technology from his experience of less than 10 years.  They suggest that Korea’s printing technology might have spread across Europe and the world through the Silk Road.

Printing technology led to the Reformation, the Renaissance, and the Scientific Revolution in the West. Hidden stories about Korean metal type printing have been slowly revealed. Between 1438 and 1448, a cardinal was dispatched to the Orient from the Vatican.

There is a record that a cardinal was a friend of Gutenberg.

It is known in the West that Gutenberg invented printing technology for the first time but it is far from the truth. The printing technology using metal movable type was learned from Joseon through a papal delegation visiting the Korean kingdom. I learned this at the Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing.

The pope’s delegation included a friend of Gutenberg and he brought back some records related to printing technology from his visit to Joseon.

- Former U.S. President Al Gore’s keynote speech at the 2005 Seoul Digital Forum

The greatest invention that sparked revolutions in Asia and the world
It was Korea’s Movable Metal Type Printing.

With the creativity that enabled the printing of Jikji, Koreans have established their country as a global IT powerhouse.

Korea is not a weak neighbor of Japan and China. Korea is the country of a hidden treasure that influenced the cultural and historical development of Asia and the world.  Now we know why Korean history has been degraded as “a shrimp between whales”.

It was because Chinese and Japanese versions of history were ‘recorded’ in world history books.  It was also because their versions of history were ‘promoted’ to the world.

For a long time, the people of the world were more familiar with Japanese and Chinese versions of history than true Korean history.

It is the result of efforts to promote their history and culture to the world. The governments and the people of China and Japan have made their history known. Korea has many ‘hidden treasures and heroes’ to be discovered by the world.

Movable metal type
Hunmin Jeongeum (Korean alphabet) manuscript
Goindol (dolmens)
Changgyeonggung Palace
King Sejong
General Yi Sunsin

They have often remained unrevealed to the world. However, they are great treasures and heroes that changed Asia and the world. VANK is taking a step forward with young Koreans.

We are promoting Korea’s “hidden treasures and heroes” to the world. Korean history was not of a shrimp caught between two whales. After many years, those hidden treasures and heroes are still inspiring the Korean people.

With their proud history, Koreans are making changes in Asia and the world. Over ten million Koreans get on international flights each year. The number of Korean overseas volunteers: the third largest in the world

With those people, VANK would like to reveal Korea’s glorious history to the world. Korea still has a lot to offer to the world. Korean history should no longer be of a shrimp between whales. Korean history will become a driving force for historical change and give hope to Asia and the world.

Someday, the people of the world will say that Korean history and culture have changed the world.

With us, you will become the leaders of these changes.

How far a person’s dream can go?
Can a person’s dream change Korea’s national image?
If you want to know the answer, listen to this story.

A Korean person’s dream has the power to inscribe the 5000 years of Korean history in the minds of people all over the world. A Korean person’s action can change the image of Koreans in the minds of the six billion people of the world. A Korean person’s dedication can bring the whole country together to realize that great vision.
 
Recognition of the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Time Magazine
The Greatest Invention of the Past Thousand Years that Changed the World, Movable Metal Type Printing
It was the force that led to the spread of knowledge among common people and the decline of the privileged class. It made the common people into the leaders of information and knowledge.

The foundation for the Renaissance, the reformation, the civil revolution and the industrial revolution was Movable Metal Type Printing. 
The inventor of the world’s first movable metal type was widely thought to be Gutenberg.
However, a Korean woman rewrote the history of movable metal type.
By this woman, Korea’s documentary heritage and its glorious history were presented to the world.
 
Dr. Byungsun Park
Went to France in 1955
Became the first female Korean student in France
 
With the dream of becoming an educator, she entered the College of Education at Seoul National University. After graduation, she decided to go to France to study.

Before the journey, her teacher made an earnest request of her.

There are Korean cultural properties that were taken by France during the French invasion in 1866. Please find out what they are and where they are.

Her study in France began with this request deeply in her mind.
For 13 years starting in 1967, she worked as a librarian at the National Library of France.
She worked for the National Library of France for one reason.
Korean cultural assets were at the National Library of France.

One day, a colleague showed her a very old book from the Orient. 
There was a title clearly printed on the cover: Jikji.

And the number, ‘1377’
Jikji, A French art collector, Henri Vever, bought it for 180 francs, and donated it to the National Library of France around 1950. However, Jikji is an invaluable cultural asset of Korea, not France. It is Korea’s earliest extant book printed with movable metal type during the Goryeo Dynasty.

Jikji, short for Baekunhwasang Chorok Buljo Jikji Simche Yojol, was written in 1372 during the reign of King Gongmin. Jikji was printed at the Hungdeok Temple, Cheongju, Korea, in 1377.

On the last page of the book, she found a remarkable fact.

Printing Method of Jikji:
Printed by using letter blocks that were made from metal casting

To prove to the world that Jikji was printed with movable metal type,
Dr. Park began experimenting with metal type printing.

After ceaseless efforts, she found that metal type printing leaves traces of metal on the edges of printed words.

Finally, her dream came true to change the history of world documentary heritage. Jikji was proven to have been printed with movable metal type in 1377, predating the Gutenberg Bible by over 70 years.

In 1972, Jikji was presented in Paris through UNESCO’s International Book Year exhibition.
The value of Jikji was widely proclaimed as the world’s oldest extant book printed with movable metal type. Her dream became the pride of Korea. In 2001, Jikji was included on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. Republic of Korea, Her discovery revealed Korea, as a country of creation for its invention of movable metal type, which is regarded as the most important technology that changed the history of mankind.

People across the world are discovering a new side of Korea through ‘Jikji’. The international community began to aware that Korea had made this great invention before the West. The mother of Jikji, Dr. Byungsun Park, and her dream will be remembered forever by Koreans and people across the world.

Later, her dream became realized through the return of books that belonged to Oegyujanggak, the royal library annex of the Joseon Dynasty. The Oegyujanggak Royal Archives Korean cultural assets that were looted by France during the French invasion in 1866 These books recorded in great detail the royal and national events of the Joseon Dynasty that lasted for over 500 years, which is rare in world history.

 
Korea’s Documentary Heritage of International Importance 

In 1975, a large volume of old books, written in classical Chinese, were found in the National Library of France. Dr. Park recognized them as Oegyujanggak books, and informed Korean reporters in Paris of this discovery. As the news about these archives spread, she was accused of being a Korean spy and resigned with dishonor.

However, her efforts were received by the Korean public. Korean NGOs and the public began demanding the return of the Oegyujanggak royal archives from France.

“Please give us back our soul” Koreans’ message that moved the French people
“These archives belong to the Korean memory, history and soul.
I had confidence that these books should be in Korea, not here”
- Former French Culture Minister, Jack Lang

On May 27, 2011, the Oegyujanggak royal archives finally returned home 145 years after they left.
Dr. Byungsun Park, Her Dream, Return of the Oegyujanggak Royal Archives
Her dream was made possible by meeting the wishes of the Korean people.
The dream came true after 20 years of persistent efforts.

There is no future for a people who lose their history.
There is no hope for a country where their ancestors’ dream fails to be passed onto their descendents.
Thanks to Dr. Park’s efforts to achieve her dream, pieces of Korean history were brought back together.

Her dream inspires the young generation of Korea in the 21st century.
There are still over 140 thousand pieces of Korean cultural heritage scattered around the world.
The treasures of Korean history and the souls of the Korean people are yet to return.
That means that there are 140 thousand new dreams to be achieved.
Now is the time for you to have this great dream.

On June 11, 2011, Dr. Byungsun Park, age 83
Despite her cancer pain, she attended the welcome ceremony for the return of the Oegyujanggak Royal Archives. The Korean cultural properties were returned after 145 years, although still on a ‘LEASE’ basis.

At the moment when her dream was realized, she delivered a message to young Koreans.

To have these books permanently stay in Korea,  there is a need for collective efforts from now on to remove the ‘lease’ condition.

I ask you to make all efforts so that these books will stay in Korea without ever going back to France.

This 83-year-old woman has another dream.

Next year, I will look for official documents about the Korean independence movements
that the French consulate sent to the home country during the Japanese Occupation Period.
So, I will help you complete the history of that period.

Now, have a greater and bigger dream.
Through your dream, the 5000 years of Korean history will be revealed to the world.
Through your dream, seventy million Koreans will unite to create hope for the six billion people of the world.
 
Then, your dream will come true and inspire bigger dreams among future generations. 
Spread greater and bigger dreams on the global stage of world history.
Korea still has a lot in its history to share with the world.

Voluntary Agency Network of Korea VANK is looking for great young Koreans  to imprint this message in the hearts of people around the world.
 
The Hope of This Five Thousand Year Old Country Is YOU!

Dr. Stephen Ellis

Q: What made NAA to become the fourth laureate of UNESCO/JIKJI Prize?
A: The prize recognises the Archives’ ability to be innovative in this area, our willingness to share the results of our research and our professional leadership. Over the last 40 years, the Archives has become a world leader in the archival profession, consistently sharing professional expertise through numerous publications and open source tools for digital preservation. The prize also recognises the Archives for its worldwide investigation into the conservation issues of parchment documents written in iron gall ink, which are vulnerable to iron gall corrosion. I am deeply honoured that the National Archives of Australia’s leadership in digital recordkeeping and preservation has been recognised in the award of the 2011 UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize. The National Archives is continuing to investigate and develop methods for the preservation of archival records in digital and other formats and is committed to sharing its developments with the archives profession throughout the world.

Q: Could you tell your organization’s the biggest contribution to preserve documentary heritages?
A: The National Archives of Australia has a commitment to the preservation of records of National significance in all forms, dating from the earliest forms, though to digital formats. For more than a decade the National Archives of Australia has had a focus on the preservation of digital records. Starting with a research project in 2001 that resulted in the Performance Model for Digital Preservation, we have developed a suite of software tools and systems in support of this model. Since 2003 we have been sharing the results of our work with anyone having an interest in digital preservation. We make our open source software and documentation freely available via the internet and today our software is downloaded all
over the world, many times every year. We are continuing to develop our software and systems to meet the
challenges of large volumes of digital material and the expanding range of digital formats that we must preserve and make accessible.

At the other end of the spectrum we are also actively involved in the challenges of preserving some of our earliest national records, In cooperation with Canberra’s universities and national cultural institutions, and co-funded by the Australian Research Council, the Archives has carried out extensive research into documents written in iron gall ink, which are vulnerable to a form of deterioration called iron gall ink corrosion. Many cultural institutions around the world hold collections of historic artworks, illuminated manuscripts, maps, musical scores, official documents and books that are endangered because they were written or drawn in iron gall ink. Within The National Archives of Australia this includes such valuable records as the Australian Federation documents including Australia’s ‘birth certificate’ – Queen Victoria’s Commission of Assent to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 9 July 1900, written almost exclusively in iron gall ink. The National Archives has played an important role in the world-wide investigation of this ink and measures to preserve these at risk records.

Q: How will you spend your prize money?
A: The prize money will fund a conservation student placement at the Archives as an investment in the future of documentary heritage preservation.

Q. What is your organization’s future plan or goal?
A: The National Archives is preparing its 5-year plan to become a wholly digital-ready archive by 2016. By “digital- ready” we mean not only having the capability to deliver access to archival records via digital means over the internet, but also the capability to advise Australian Government agencies on the making, keeping and preservation of digital records for government and community purposes. We will build on our existing online services to the government and the public using contemporary technology and continue to investigate and to develop new ways to provide access and to preserve records using new technologies as they become available.

The National Archives of Australia In Europe, Gutenberg published the 42-line bible in 1455 while, Korea’s Jikji was published in 1377. Those two books were inscribed on the UNESCO on the same day. In Sep 4th,2001, UNESCO registered them on the Memory of the World which is UNESCO’s programme aiming at preservation and dissemination of valuable archive holdings and library collections worldwide. Gutenberg’s 42-line bible is the first book printed in Europe with movable types. From Mainz, the location of Gutenberg’s printing office, the new technology spread all over Europe and the world. Of the originally 30 Bibles printed on vellum only four have survived in their complete form with all their 1282 pages.*

Korea had already used the movable metal type in the early 13th century. In early 1200, Jeungdoga was printed with movable metal type. From 1234 to 1241, 28 copies of Sangjeongyemun were printed. In 1377, Jikji, the oldest extant metal printed book in the world was printed.

Ms. Joie Springer

Q: Could you introduce yourself?
A: Manager of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, a successful preservation and access initiative to raise awareness of the urgent need to preserve analogue and digital documentary heritage. I am the UNESCO project coordinator for the World Digital Library which helps to expand multilingual and culturally diverse content on the Internet. In addition, I work on activities supporting national development through the development of archives, including audiovisual archives, libraries and general
preservation work.

Q: Would you introduce UNESCO/JIkji prize briefly?
A: The UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize is an initiative of Cheongju City to commemorate the inscription of the Buljo jikji simche yojeol, the oldest known existing book of movable metal print, on the Memory of the World Register, and to promote the preservation and accessibility of the world’s documentary heritage. An award of $30,000 is given to an institution or individual recommended by a Jury to UNESCO’s Director-General in a very elaborate ceremony that has so far been organized in Cheongju every two years. Previous winners came from the Czech Republic, Austria and Malaysia. In 2011, the National Archives of Australia was chosen to receive the award.

Q: What were reasons why UNESCO chose NAA as the fourth laureate of UNESCO/JIKJI?
A: The National Archives of Australia was selected because of its impressive preservation programme across different media. It is outstanding in each of these, but is especially known for its work in the digital arena. It contributes to the global dissemination of knowledge that it has accumulated by participating in the development of international standards and guidelines. It contributes to international conferences and offers workshops, and in particular, it runs an exemplary preservation programme that also provides guidance to those seeking help to ensure the long term preservation of their own materials.

Though the Korean Metal Type was created earlier than Gutenberg‘s, there are someone who think that it is of less significance because it was less influential from a historical point of view.

I admit that it can be seen like that but isn’t this from a western perspective? Because mankind evolving from a western basis, views of the west have been enormously influential to the world. However, there are something in Asia that the westerners don’t know. Hence, the value is under rated. Jikji, the oldest extant movable metal type printing, is a good example. We would like to enlighten the world with the hidden values that await to be found. This is how we got to start this kind of work. From this point on, it is my humble wish that you accept the following not as a contradiction but merely as information of the unknown Korean as well as Asian values directed to ones of the world who are yet unfamiliar to content of this nature.

The main reason for Koreans using the Metal print was to, as Gutenberg. distribute mass information quickly. The fact that Koreans were, in early 13th century, 200 years ahead of Gutenberg, and widely using this technology is a very significant fact considering the importance of information distribution. I think that the people of the world should be aware of this. This is why UNESCO registered Jikji, which proves that Korea invented and used the Metal type, and Gutenberg as a Memory of the world in 2001 . Mr. Bendik Rugaas, Chairman, Norwegian, Memory of the World National Committee, explains the historical significance.

Jikji is the oldest existing Metal Printed Book. It has influenced on human beings and spread out, so it was recognized to be the most influenceable legacy. Additionally, the rarity was mainly considered in selecting it, because there is only one volume in France right now.

Metal type

In the east, the fact that the Korean Metal type was imported to Japan and used to print books is recorded in Japanese history. This shows the fact that Korea’s Metal type influenced Asia. For a more detailed example, in 1592, the Japanese General, Toyotomi Hideyoshi plundered the Copper type and in his journal 2nd year (1593), it says that he offered this to the Emperor Huyangsung. The Emperor commanded the printing of Gomun hyokyung. This is recorded in Shikyung Kyungki but there is no existing copy. Using a wooden type in 1597, Kwonhakmun was printed. In the preface, it states that the wooden type printing method was from Joseon dynasty, the ancient dynasty of Korea.

After Jikji, it was passed down, improved and used by more Koreans. This is a detailed reference in the Korean history book. In the Joseon dynasty, the printing technology continued to improve. After Gyemija in 1403, Gyeongjaja in 1420, Gabinja in 1434 and Byeongjinja in 1436 were used to print various books. After Hangeul was promulgated in 1446, a Metal type was used in 1447 to print Wolinchungangjigok.

From a western view, more research is needed to see how much influence this was inflicting. Also, there are some historians who claim that Gutenberg’s metal type casting method was from Korea. For reference, this is what Al Gore, USA’s former vice president, said in 2005 in his opening speech at The Seoul Digital Forum 2005. He said that he was surprised with Korea’s advanced IT technology and he added saying, “Many know Gutenberg as the inventor of printing but this technology was obtained after the Pope’s delegation after visiting Korea.”

He also said, when Gutenberg invented printing press, he had talked with the Pope’s delegation. He was friends with the delegation who brought him many different records of printing technology.” He added that The Swiss printing Museum was the source of his information. (Yeonhap News May 19, 2005)

1) I would like to conclude that the Korean metal type was for swift distribution of mass information, just like Gutenberg.
2) Also in 2001, UNESCO registered the Jikji and Gutenberg for changing the world by informing massive amounts of information.
3) Last, the Korean Metal type influenced publishing books in Japan and this can be thought of as Jikji influencing Asia.

Therefore, Gutenberg and Jikji influenced the history of man (western history). But, besides comparing these two and the American and European view that Gutenberg has more significance than the Jikji, I believe that we need to study the significance of the Korean Metal type and look upon this from a worldly view. And as we do this, it is my hope that there is a balanced understanding of the Eastern Jikji and the western Gutenberg, both Metal types of the East and West, and that this is reflected in textbooks, encyclopedias and in the Internet.

I wish that this article will change your views on the Jikji and furthermore be of some help in making people from all corners of the world learn the right facts about Jikji.

Written by Cheol-hee Lee(Former director of Early Printing Museum)

Jikji was inscribed on UNESCO’s the Memory of the World
The proposal of JIKJI for Inscription on the Memory of the World was suggested during the 1996 seminar of UNESCO Chungcheong Province Association for the first time. The conclusion of this seminar was that Cheongju city should propose inscription of Jikji as the Memory of the World Register, because it was printed in it. 

Jikji was printed with movable metal type in 1377 which was 78 years earlier than the Gutenberg’s 42-line bible and 145 years earlier than China’s Chunchubeonro. Consequently, Jikji has more value than two of them as documentary heritage. 

Hence, Cheongju city, the Early Printing Museum of Cheongju, UNESCO Korea Committee and UNESCO Chungcheong Province Association cooperated and submitted Jikji as the Memory of the World. Jikji was examined during 2001 5th International Counsel Committee session. By three organizations’ efforts, it was inscribed on the Memory of the World Register in Sep 4th, 2001.

Memory of the World Programme 

This programme aiming at preservation and dissemination of documentary heritages and library collections. UNESCO established the Memory of the World Programme in 1992. Impetus came originally from a growing awareness of the parlous state of preservation of, and access to, documentary heritage in various parts of the world.

The Memory of the World Register lists documentary heritage which has been identified by the International Advisory Committee in its meetings in Tashkent (September 1997), in Vienna (June 1999), in Cheongju City (June 2001), in Gdansk (August 2003) and in Lijiang (June 2005) and endorsed by the Director-General of UNESCO as corresponding to the selection criteria for world significance.

The selection basis of Memory of the World is as follows: The first basis is 1) Influence, 2)Time, 3)Place, 4)People, 5)Subject, 6)Theme, 7)Form and Style, Social Value and the second basis is 1)Integrity, 2)Rarity. The registered heritages satisfying this selection bases and approved by International Counsel Committee is permitted to be registered on Memory of the World. 
* Source from UNESCO : Memory of the World website.

What is UNESCO?
UNESCO is the specialized institution of the UN for the purpose of the forever peace by promoting international understanding and cooperation in the field such as education, science, culture and communication. Human beings were aware of that, through the past 2 world wars, the direct reason for wars was not political, military or economic conflicts between countries, but intellectual, cultural conflicts from each nation’s distrusts and prejudices. 

As a result, human beings believed that the intellectual elevation and the promotion of mutual understanding were a basis for the peace, and thus UNESCO was established for the purpose of promoting international peace and human beings’ welfare, which is declared by the UN Charter, under the mindset that peace should be constructed on human beings’ intellectual and moral association.

This chapter will guide you to learn more about the development of printing methods and its remarkable contribution to civilization. And we introduce you representative movable metal type printings. You may know Gutenberg’s 42-line Bible as the first metal type printed book. However, JIKJI was printed with movable metal type in 1377 which was 78 earlier than Gutenberg’s one. Someone says the effect of JIKJI on world history was insignificant. But, isn’t this the westerner’s perspective?

We gently suggest you to examine and recognize the value of JIKJI through this chapter.

Why is the movable metal type printing the greatest?
The world’s most famous news media, such as BBC, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Time Magazine reported that movable metal type printing was the greatest invention throughout the entire human history.

For instance, in 1997, the Life Millennium which was published by Time-Life magazine reported 100 cases making world changed for last millennium. Time picked the invention of movable metal type printing as most important of the second millennium.

All of these media recognize the contribution of movable metal type printing to civilization. This invention stimulated popularization of Information and provoked collapse of information-monopolizing class. Hence, Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the Industrial Revolution and the Great Rebellion took place. These great events in human history affected on present-day and civilization.

How did the movable metal type printing influenced civilization?
Before movable metal type printing invented, wooden block printing was the best method to publish books. Publishers carved each pages of a book in each wooden block. As a result, they could publish only one book by wooden block printing in same time. It was the weakest point of wooden block printing. If they attempt to print other books, they had to carve many wooden blocks again and again. This caused the high price of a book. Consequently, only the wealth and scholars possessed books.

On the other hand, it was able to print many different books in same time if publisher have a set of movable metal alphabet types. This enhanced mass production of diverse books at lower cost. More people began to read books and the public’s desire to acquire new knowledge was stimulated. Therefore, many authors were able to spread their new ideas and knowledge among the public. Martin Luther was the one of them. His book was widely read throughout Europe after he published it. As a result, the Protestant Reformation took place. Furthermore, another authors’ ideas gained widespread support and led more changes and revolutions.

In conclusion, the invention of movable metal type printing enabled to spread information widely and massively.

Representative World’s Movable Metal Type Printings
In Europe, Gutenberg published the 42-line bible in 1455 while, Korea’s Jikji was published in 1377. Those two books were inscribed on the UNESCO on the same day. In Sep 4th, 2001, UNESCO registered them on the Memory of the World which is UNESCO’s programme aiming at preservation and dissemination of valuable archive holdings and library collections worldwide.

Gutenberg’s 42-line bible is the first book printed in Europe with movable types. From Mainz, the location of Gutenberg’s printing office, the new technology spread all over Europe and the world. Of the originally 30 Bibles printed on vellum only four have survived in their complete form with all their 1282 pages.

Korea had already used the movable metal type in the early 13th century. In early 1200, Jeungdoga was printed with movable metal type. From 1234 to 1241, 28 copies of Sangjeongyemun were printed. In 1377, Jikji, the oldest extant metal printed book in the world was printed.

Introduction to Jikji

Jikji

The original title of Jikji is Baegun hwasang chorok buljo jikjisimcheyojeol which means literally that Baegun hwasang copied and recorded meaning of Buddha’s the most important words, Jikji. Jikji’s writer and publisher were different. Baegun hwasang was the writer. Venerable Baegun was born in 1289 and became a Buddhist monk in his early age. He was the Seon* master and passed away in 1374. After his death, his pupils, Seok-chan and Daljam printed this book with movable metal type in 1377. Biguni**, Myodeok sponsored them by offering.

Buddha’s the most important words, Jikji is abbreviation of Jikji-insim-gyeonsong-songbul which means you may realize the original nature of mind through meditation, and you can attain Enlightenment. It can be literally translated by several meanings: indicating accurately, honest mind and managing directly.

Content of this book is the collection of Buddhist treatises and teachings. Baegun’s pupils printed first and last volume of this book at Heungdeoksa temple of Cheongju city. Only last volume of this book was found and this volume has been kept in the National Library of France.

National Library of France

* Zen Budhism is also known as Seon Budhism in Korea
** Budhist nun is also known as Biguni in Korea

Why Jikji has been kept in France?
The first French ambassador to Korea, Collin de Plancy collected it and brought to France when he returned to his mother country. After his death, his collection was auctioned. A curio collector, Henri Vever bought and kept it. By Henri’s will, Jikji was donated to the National Library of France.

The Korean historian, Dr. Byeong-seon, Park who was working for this library discovered it. Jikji was displayed in 1972 at Special Exhibition for ‘Book’ in Paris. There, experts recognized the value of the book. Jikji turned out the oldest existing book ever printed with movable metal type.

The proofs that Jikji was printed with movable metal type

After Dr. Byeon-seon, Park found Jikji, she researched on it and found various proofs that this book was printed with movable metal type. First, a postscript of the last page of Jikji prove it. It says ju-ja meaning metal type.

Second, upside down printed letter prove it. Its original shape is this . If Jikji was written by handwriting, this upside down letters wouldn’t be found. But same upside down letters was found throughout the pages of Jikji.

You may barely know about this and only heard your country’s representative old books. In this chapter, you can grasp the development of world’s printing methods. By reading this chapter, you may widen your knowledge and view about printing.

751 Darani Sutra Printed with Woodblocks in Korea
The Mugujeonggwang daedaranigyeong (Pure Light Darani Sutra) is the oldest extant printed document in the world. It was published in Korea before 751 A.D. during the Silla Kingdom. This scroll of Buddhist scriptures is printed from woodblocks. This Darani Sutra was found inside the Seokga Pagoda of the Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, Korea.

770 Hyakumanto Darani Printed with Woodblocks in Japan
The Hyakumanto Darani (One Million Pagodas and Darani Prayers) is a woodblock printing completed around the year 770 A.D. Empress Shotoku of Japan hand one million wooden pagodas constructed to enshrine the Darani Sutra inside to restore peace in the country. The prayers were then enshrined in ten major temples.

868 Diamond Sutra Printed with Woodblocks in China 
The Diamond Sutra (Diamond Cutter Sutra) is a scroll, published with woodblocks by Wang Jie to pray for the souls of his parents. A central text of Indian Buddhism, the Diamond Sutra was first translated from Sanskrit into Chinese in about 400 A.D. and is still widely read. This Diamond Sutra is now on display in the British Library.

1041 Movable Type Printing invented by Bi Sheng
Supposedly during the years between 1041 and 1048, the first known movable type printing was created in China by Bi Sheng, a commoner, out of baked clay. Nevertheless, because it was made of clay, they faced difficulties in typesetting and printing. This prevented it from being widely used and further developed.

1377 Jikji Printed with the Movable Metal Type in Korea
In Korea, the movable metal type printing technique was invented in the early thirteenth century during the Goryeo Dynasty. One of its notable works, Baegunhwasangchorok Buljo jikjisimcheyojeol, usually abbreviated to Jikji(the Selected Sermons of Buddhist Sages and Seon Masters), was printed at the Heungdeoksa Temple in Cheongju in 1377 and is now kept in the National Library of France. It is the oldest extant movable metal type printing in the world.

Different Kinds of Books Produced Following Jikji
During the Joseon Dynasty, movable metal type was relentlessly developed. Following Gyemi characters in 1403, various sets of books were published with other characters, including Gyeongja characters in 1420, Gabin characters in 1434, and Byeongjin characters in 1436. After the promulgation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, in 1446, the ‘Wolincheongangjigok’ was printed in Hangeul movable metal type.

1447 Hangeul, the Korean Alphabet, Created by King Sejong
The Diamond Sutra (Diamond Cutter Sutra) is a scroll, published with woodblocks by Wang Jie to pray for the souls of his parents. A central text of Indian Buddhism, the Diamond Sutra was first translated from Sanskrit into Chinese in about 400 A.D. and is still widely read. This Diamond Sutra is now on display in the British Library.

1455 Gutenberg’s Bible Printed with the Movable Metal Type
Gutenberg was the first in the Western world to invent the printing press by developing screw-type presses that had been in use for squeezing grapes and olive oil. He printed copies of the 42-line Bible between 1453 and 1455. His invention of the movable metal type technique was the motive of the Renaissance spread. The Protestant Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, and the transformation into modern capitalism.

2001 Jikji, Inscribed on Memory of the World Register, UNESCO
The significant contributions of Jikji as the oldest existing metal printed book and its spreading influence on printing technology was recognized at the 5th International Advisory Committee of UNESCO on Memory of the World Register held in 2001. At that time, Jikji was finally inscribed in the Memory of the World Prize to individuals or groups who make significant contributions to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage.

21st century IT 
Korea! Korea is one of the world’s leading IT countries. Behind this success lies the development of diverse preconditions for printing techniques including papermaking technique, casting technique, stationery making and bookbinding, which paved the way for the emergence of Korea as the world’s IT power. Indeed, Korea has topped the global Digital opportunity index out of 180 countries for two consecutive years. This index measures a country’s degree of information technology advancement.