Jikji and Heungdeok Room

[Traveler]
Finally, we have come to see Jikji. Jikji is a Buddhist book, which is why it was made at a temple. Just like monks in medieval Europe, ancient Korean monks produced religious books profusely to preach their religion widely.

Two books are contained in the glass chest. The one on the left is a photographic copy of the original Jikji, while the middle one was printed using the recently restored metal types placed on the right. Jikji originally comprised two books, but only one book has been discovered so far. At the end of the 19th century, the French diplomat Plancy took the orignal copy of Jikji from Korea, and it is currently being kept at the National Library of France.

It's a pity not to be able to see the book at its very birthplace. However, what is fortunate is that although it has left its home country, UNESCO was able to recognized and designated Jikji as a UNESCO Memory of the World. It was given special treatment probably because the invention of metal types had a remarkable influence on the development of humanity's culture.

By the way, take a look at the metal type plate behind the two books. What could that be used for? It features closely knitted patterns of lozenges. The same pattern can be found on the reinstated cover of the book. That is the metal plate used to print decorative patterns on the book. Jikji is a masterpiece that involved a lot of technical and aesthetic efforts. Shall we now move on to see the relics discovered at the Heungdeok Temple Site?

This broad cylinder is the drum that helped find the birthplace of Jikji. Indeed, characters are inscribed on the edge of the drum. This bronze drum was used to gather people together or to inform them of urgent news, therefore must have made a very particular sounds. What do you think are those sculptures on the far left shaped like turban shells? That's Buddha’s curly hair. These sculptures suggest that Heungdeok Temple also had iron Buddha statues.

The peculiar-shaped item on the right was used by female monks when going through religious training. It was made after a weapon used by a god of India. Monks believed that this item could dispel their worries and distracting thoughts while they disciplined themselves.