The "80,000 Blocks of the Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures" is a collection of Buddhist books during the Koryo Dynasty, a feudal state of Korea, which existed between 918 and 1392.
It began to be printed in Koryo in 1011. The wooden blocks used for printing the collection on two occasions were burnt by foreign invaders in 1231.
Ri Chun Sop, Section Chief of the National Classics Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences, says:
"The present complete collection of Buddhist scriptures was engraved on wood for 16 years between 1236 and 1251. The collection published at that time has 1,537 kinds and 6,793 volumes and the number of wooden blocks engraved with words amounts to more than 80,000.
That's the 80,000 Blocks of the Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures which was widely known as the world's oldest, correctest and richest of the complete collections of Buddhist scriptures in Chinese characters. It is also called the 'Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures during the Koryo Dynasty'."
The wooden blocks of the complete collection were made of machilus, paktal wood or birch wood. Every block is 69.6 centimetres long, 24 centimetres wide and 3.7 centimetres thick. It has 22 lines with 14 letters each.
Four corners of the block were girdled with bronze belts and fixed with nails. Wooden pillars were put on both sides to keep the block from being twisted and the surface of the board was lacqured not to be decayed and worm-eaten for a long time.
A copy of the wooden blocks of the "80,000 Blocks of the Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures" is preserved in the Pohyon Temple of Mt. Myohyang in Hyangsan Country of North Phyongan Province.
The "80,000 Blocks of the Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures" is one of the precious cultural heritages of the Korean nation as it shows the high printing technology of the Korean ancestors.
More From Voice of Korea (EN)
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received floral baskets from Vice-Chairman Sai Tiejun and Directors Cui Tongwen and Jin Xian of
December 30, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received floral baskets from Vice-Chairman Sai Tiejun and Directors Cui Tongwen and Jin Xian of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the 14th anniversary
December 30, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the 14th anniversary
Floral baskets were laid before the bronze statues of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill in the name of
December 30, 2025
Floral baskets were laid before the bronze statues of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill in the name of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a floral basket and a congratulatory letter from the foreign military attaches' corps
December 30, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a floral basket and a congratulatory letter from the foreign military attaches' corps
Workers and trade unionists met at the Central Hall of Workers on the 29th to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the respected
December 30, 2025
Workers and trade unionists met at the Central Hall of Workers on the 29th to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the respected
A performance was given by the Art Squad of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea at the Academy of
December 30, 2025
A performance was given by the Art Squad of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea at the Academy of
The "Exhibition of Sci-Tech Successes in Different Sectors of National Economy--2025" opened at the hall for information industry
December 30, 2025
The "Exhibition of Sci-Tech Successes in Different Sectors of National Economy--2025" opened at the hall for information industry
2025 is a significant year when the major industrial sectors of the national economy carried out their highly-set production plans
December 30, 2025
2025 is a significant year when the major industrial sectors of the national economy carried out their highly-set production plans
The farm machines exhibition "Development of Farm Machines--2025" opened under the subject "Larger Quantities of Efficient and
December 30, 2025
The farm machines exhibition "Development of Farm Machines--2025" opened under the subject "Larger Quantities of Efficient and
Greeting cards of diverse themes were produced by creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Central Fine Arts
December 30, 2025
Greeting cards of diverse themes were produced by creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Central Fine Arts
New houses were built in Songhan-dong and Sonsang-dong, the city of Sinuiju of North Phyongan Province, and in Sanbuk-ri, Suan
December 30, 2025
New houses were built in Songhan-dong and Sonsang-dong, the city of Sinuiju of North Phyongan Province, and in Sanbuk-ri, Suan
December 30 this year marks the 14th anniversary of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's appointment as Supreme Commander of the
December 30, 2025
December 30 this year marks the 14th anniversary of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's appointment as Supreme Commander of the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
December 30, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
The inaugural ceremony of the Ryonggang County Hospital and regional-industry factories in the city of Nampho was held with
December 30, 2025
The inaugural ceremony of the Ryonggang County Hospital and regional-industry factories in the city of Nampho was held with
A launching drill of the long-range strategic cruise missiles was held in the West Sea of Korea on December 28. The respected
December 29, 2025
A launching drill of the long-range strategic cruise missiles was held in the West Sea of Korea on December 28. The respected
An inauguration ceremony of a paper mill built in Unsan County of South Phyongan Province took place on December 28. The respected
December 29, 2025
An inauguration ceremony of a paper mill built in Unsan County of South Phyongan Province took place on December 28. The respected
A provincial consumer goods exhibition took place in the city of Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province. It was attended by a lot of
December 29, 2025
A provincial consumer goods exhibition took place in the city of Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province. It was attended by a lot of
South Hamgyong Province successfully wound up the projects for building or rebuilding schools, branch schools and kindergartens as
December 29, 2025
South Hamgyong Province successfully wound up the projects for building or rebuilding schools, branch schools and kindergartens as
Modern houses were built in Singye-ri, Hoeyang County of Kangwon Province. A meeting was held with the attendance of officials of
December 29, 2025
Modern houses were built in Singye-ri, Hoeyang County of Kangwon Province. A meeting was held with the attendance of officials of
Seed producers in all parts of the country put their seed processing processes on an assembly-line basis. All the processes were
December 29, 2025
Seed producers in all parts of the country put their seed processing processes on an assembly-line basis. All the processes were
More Articles
