Jikji
Jikji (Korean: 직지; Korean pronunciation: [tɕiktɕ͈i]) is the abbreviated title of a Korean Buddhist document whose title can be translated to "Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings". Jikji Simche means, "If you look at a person's heart correctly through the Zen meditation, you will realize that the nature of the heart is the heart of Buddha.". Printed during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1377, it is the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type. UNESCO confirmed Jikji as the world's oldest metalloid type in September 2001 and includes it in the Memory of the World Programme.
| Jikji | |
Pages from the first book printed using type | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 백운화상초록불조직지심체요절 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Baegun hwasang chorok buljo jikji simche yojeol |
| McCune–Reischauer | Paegun hwasang ch'orok pulcho chikchi simch'e yojŏl |
Jikji was published in Heungdeok Temple in 1377, 78 years prior to Johannes Gutenberg's acclaimed "42-Line Bible" printed during the years 1452–1455. The greater part of the Jikji is now lost, and today only the last volume survives, and is kept at the Manuscrits Orientaux division of the National Library of France (BnF). The BnF has hosted a digital copy online.