TRAVEL: Haeinsa Temple's Tripitaka Koreana and Janggyeong Panjeon, treasures of UNESCO heritage

팔만대장경 — The Tripitaka Koreana / Courtesy of the Cultural Heritage Administration

SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - Haeinsa Temple, located on Mount Gaya in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, welcomes about 3,000 international visitors each year through its templestay program. Although it sits in a relatively remote area, Haeinsa continues to attract foreign travelers drawn by two extraordinary treasures: the Tripitaka Koreana, often called a global miracle, and the remarkable wooden hall that preserves it, the Janggyeong Panjeon.

The canon was produced during a time of national turmoil. Faced with repeated Mongol invasions, the people of Goryeo turned to Buddhism, hoping divine merit would protect the country. The project began in 1236 and took sixteen years to complete. A total of 81,258 woodblocks were carved, which is why it is commonly referred to as the “Eighty-Thousand Tripitaka.”

This vast compilation is more than a religious text. It includes the recorded teachings of the Buddha, monastic rules, and interpretive commentaries by later scholars, making it a true encyclopedia of Buddhism.

The preservation of the Tripitaka Koreana over the centuries is nothing short of extraordinary. Its survival is credited to the scientific precision, care, and discipline involved in its production. The wood used for the blocks was soaked in seawater to prevent decay, then carved, lacquered, treated, and reinforced at the corners to prevent warping. Every block was made with the utmost attention to detail.

The Janggyeong Panjeon, which has protected the woodblocks for centuries, is itself a wonder. Believed to have been built around 1488 during the Joseon Dynasty, the structure consists of two parallel buildings. The southern building is called the Sudarajang, and the northern one is the Beopbojeon.

The architecture of the hall is designed to naturally regulate temperature and humidity. The front windows are built with larger lower openings and smaller upper ones, while the rear windows are the opposite. The soil beneath drains well, and layers of salt, charcoal, lime, and sandy clay were added to the foundation. These materials help repel pests, absorb moisture during the rainy season, and release it when the air is dry.

장경판전 수다라장YONHAP — Sudarajang Hall at Janggyeong Panjeon / YONHAP

The Tripitaka Koreana is considered unmatched in both scale and significance. It holds special value for its size, historical importance, academic influence, consistency in calligraphy, advanced printing technology, carving technique, unique catalog system, and state of preservation. These qualities led to both the canon and the storage halls being recognized by UNESCO.

The Janggyeong Panjeon was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1995 for its scientific architectural design. The Tripitaka Koreana was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2007.

Cho Bo-hee jobo@ajupress.com