Jikji is recognized as the world’s oldest extant movable metal type print by UNESCO. However, it is still relatively unknown to the world. Instead, many sources misidentify Gutenberg’s 42-Line Bible, which was printed 78 years after Jikji, as the earliest book printed with movable metal type and Gutenberg as the inventor of movable metal type.
VANK conducted extensive research on the representation of Jikji in worldwide textbooks, encyclopedias, and websites. One of the most common errors was that the Gutenberg Bible was named as the world’s oldest book printed with movable metal type. Or, Jikji was simply omitted from the history of movable metal type and the printing press.
One source misidentified China’s Diamond Sutra as the earliest woodblock print, instead of Korea’s Mugujeonggwang Daedaranigyeong, in its introduction to Korea’s documentary heritage and printing history.
Below are examples of errors and facts about Jikji.
| Falses | Truths |
|---|---|
| HighBeamTM Encyclopedia | |
| The art of making inked reproductions from woodblocks and movable signs was developed in the 6-8c by the Chinese and Koreans. | Woodblock painting technique was developed in the 7-8 century China. Currently extant one is “The Mugujeonggwang daedaranigyeong” which was published in 751 AD Korea. With regard to the movable type printing technique, “Movable Type Printing” was invented by a Chinese, Pi Sheng, in 1041 and the movable metal type printing was invented in the 13th century Korea. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| History of Science and Technology | |
| Although he[Gutenberg] was not the first to try casting metal type?the Chinese had tried it and found it too difficult to do properly?he created the first system for casting type so that the letters could form a flat surface, essential to their use in printing. | The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| Cambridge University Library | |
| The first substantial work printed from moveable metal type, the so-called Gutenberg or 42-line Bible, produced in Mainz around 1455 by Johann Gutenberg, Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer. | The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| www.nytimes.com | |
| The Koreans had been using sand casting to make metal letters and had already been mass-producing books for at least 30 years, but the scholars found no direct evidence that Gutenberg had contact with them.The Bible, which is known as the Gutenberg Bible, was published around 1455, in an edition of about 180 copies. It is the oldest surviving printed book. |
During the Joseon Dynasty, Koreans had mass-produced books by using sand casting. Currently, scholars found no direct evidence that Gutenberg had contact with them.
The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| Dynodan Printing Solutions | |
| In the middle 1200’s, type characters cast from metal (bronze) had been developed in Japan and China. The oldest known text printed from this type of metal type dates to the year 1397 AD. | In the early 1200, Korea invented type characters cast from metal (bronze). The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| Knysna Press | |
| The movable type metal printing press was invented in Korea in 1234.
The oldest extant movable metal-type book is the Jikji, printed in 1377 in Korea. |
The Korean invented movable metal type technique in the early 13th century.
The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| The Hindu | |
| Actually, the movable type metal printing press was invented in Korea, as early as, the 13th Century. The oldest surviving book published on such movable metal type belongs to Korea. It was published in 1377. But the invention was not fully utilised by the Koreans or the Chinese. | In fact, the Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| HighBeamTM Encyclopedia | |
| Similar printing had been done earlier in China and Korea. In China printing from movable woodblocks was invented by Pi Sheng in 1040, and printing with movable type made of clay was also prevalent; in Korea movable copper type was invented as early as 1392. | Similar printing technique was tried in China and Korea earlier. In China, Movable Type Printing(교니활자) printing was tried by Pi Sheng in 1041 and in Korea, movable metal type made in bronze was invented. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| ICBTT 2002 | |
| The printing technology could not industrialize in Korea, because there was not a element of (4)printing press machine. | The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| Steve Dutch Homepage | |
| Not only did Koreans know about printing, but someone about 1200 even invented a phonetic alphabet for Korean – the system we use where each sound is represented by a single letter. Korean scholars rejected the change. They were using the complex Chinese system, considered it more elegant, and mastery of this complex system was the whole basis of their status.
Printing in China and Korea was used mostly for authenticating official documents, safeguarding against forgery. The idea of using printing for disseminating information widely either never occurred to anyone, or if it did, was considered undesirable. |
The Korean not only knew about the movable type printing technique but also contrived a phonetic alphabet, Hangeul in 1443. Using Korean movable metal type, they succeeded in printing diverse documents, such as “Weorin cheon-gang-ji-gok.”
The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji’, which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. During Joseon Dynasty, movable metal type printing using wood, bronze and metal had become common, and a various kinds of printings about Agriculture, Medical, Science Technique, and Confucianism were published. |
| MSN Encarta | |
| 1450, Printing press, Johann Gutenberg German | Jikji is the oldest extant movable metal type printing. |
| infoplease | |
| 11th century The Chinese and Koreans continue to experiment with movable type, using clay, wood, bronze and iron. The complexity of Chinese and Korean symbols creates a major stumbling block to the process.
German Johann Gutenberg invents movable type by developing foundry-cast metal characters and a wooden printing press.
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The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji’ published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| Ted’s Photographics | |
| By 1400 Korean printers were casting metal type, but it is Johannes Gutenberg (1398-1468), a German businessman, who is credited with the invention of printing in the West. | The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| The Electronic Labyrinth | |
| The earliest dated printed book, known as the Diamond Sutra, was produced in China in 868 CE, but it is believed that the practice dates back well before this date. The Japanese and the Chinese regularly used wood blocks carved in relief to produce Buddhist charms as early as the fifth century CE. | The oldest printing is ‘Mugu jeonggwang dae darani-gyeong.’ This printing was found in Bulguksa Seokgatap of Gyeongju, Korea. |
| The Press | |
| About four hundreds later The Chinese gave the world next invention, it was so ? called table ? press. They cut a picture and text into a wooden desk, after it they rubber ? stamped some paper with it: it is the first important step to the letter ? press.
There had been invented metal moving types for press yet in Korea in this time. [ . . . ]The first book was printed this technology in 1409. |
The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| A Brief History of Communication | |
| 600 Ink on seals is stamped on paper in China, (true printing)868 Books printed in China | 751, printed ‘Mugu jeonggwang dae darani-gyeong’ |
| Did you know? | |
| While there are no surviving examples of the Chinese printing presses of the 11th Century, the oldest surving printed book on record is the Budhist Diamond-Sutra of 868 AD. | The oldest printing is ‘Mugu jeonggwang dae darani-gyeong.’ This printing was printed on the woodblock in 751 AD Korea. |
| Dr Ciolek, T. Matthew – Personal Page | |
| 1043 – [T] Collection of Buddhist Scriptures, the Tripitaka, was printed in Korea using movable metal fonts (Knops 1998). | Palman daejanggyeong had been printed on the woodblock for 16 years since 1236. |
| Kidipede ? History for Kids | |
| Somebody in Tang Dynasty China, about 850 AD, had the idea of carving wooden blocks with a page of text, then inking it and pressing paper on the block to print a page. The oldest printed scroll we know of comes from northwest China, and it says on it that it was printed in 868 AD. | The oldest printing is ‘Mugu jeonggwang dae darani-gyeong.’ This printing was printed on the woodblock in 751 AD Korea. |
| Communication Arts | |
| [ . . . ] The Diamond Sutra, [ . . . ] the oldest extant printed book, shows an advanced technique behind which there must have been a long evolution. | The oldest printing is ‘Mugu jeonggwang dae darani-gyeong.’ This printing was printed on the woodblock in 751 AD Korea. |
| Education Technology Historical Events | |
| 770 Oldest surving printing: a Buddhist prayer for Japanese Empress Shotoku. Absence of Jikji. |
The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. “Gyemija” was printed in 1403 Joseon Dynasty. |
| MFA Talon | |
| The Japanese produced wood-block rubbings of Buddhist charms that were the first authenticated prints.
However, Gutenbergs press was wooden, and the most important aspect of his invention was that it was the first form of printing to use movable type. |
The Japanese printed Hyakumanto Daranigyeong in 770 AD; Korea’s ‘Mugu jeonggwang dae darani-gyeong’ was printed on the woodblock even before 751 AD.
The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| Wikipedia | |
| A copy of the Diamond Sutra, found sealed in a cave in China in the early 20th century, is the oldest known dated, printed book, with a printed date of 868. | The oldest printing is ‘Mugu jeonggwang dae darani-gyeong.’ This printing was printed on the woodblock in 751 AD Korea. |
| Movable Type Printing of Ancient China | |
| Encarta | |
| The Gutenberg Bible is the first book known to have been created with movable metal type. | The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheungju, Korea and is currently kept in France National Library. |
| Textbooks | Korean Scholars’ Analysis |
|---|---|
| During the Koryo period in 1234, the Koreans invented movable metal type using Chinese symbols to print books.
Global Studies: Civilizations of the Past and present |
Woodblock painting technique was developed in the 7-8 century China. The oldest extant one is “The Mugujeonggwang daedaranigyeong” which was published in 751 AD Korea. With regard to the movable type printing technique, “Movable Type Printing” was invented by a Chinese, Pi Sheng, in 1041 and the movable metal type printing was invented in the 13th century Korea. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheongju, Korea and is currently kept in the National Library of France. |
| Temples flourished, and religious writings multiplied. The royal family had printers carve more than 81,000 wooden blocks containing the entire Buddhist scripture. The blocks can still be seen in a Buddhist temple today. The Koreans later improved printing by developing movable metal type.
World cultures, A global mosaic |
Temples flourished, and religious writings multiplied. Though, Koreans invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century, the royal family had printers carve more than 81,000 wooden blocks containing the entire Buddihst scripture. The blocks can still be seen in a Buddhist temple today. |
| Some scholars speculate that block printing was invented in the Koryo state and then passed on to the Chinese.
How to prepare for the AP, world history 2007 2nd edition |
Woodblock printing technique was developed in the 7-8 century China. Currently extant one is “The Mugujeonggwangdaedaranigyeong” which was published in 751AD Korea. |
| 1) During the 14005 the emperor Sejong ordered the development of a Korean alphabet. The Koreans borrowed the Chinese invention of movable wood type and then improved upon it. They designed movable type blocks made of metal, which was far more durable and produced sharper images.
World history: The human journey |
1) Woodblock painting technique was developed in the 7-8 century China. The oldest extant one is “The Mugujeonggwang daedaranigyeong” which was published in 751 AD Korea. With regard to the movable type printing technique, “Movable Type Printing” was invented by a Chinese, Pi Sheng, in 1041 and the movable metal type printing was invented in the 13th century Korea. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheongju, Korea and is currently kept in the National Library of France. |
| Koreans used woodblock printing from China to produce a flood of Buddhist texts. Later, Korean inventors made movable metal type to print large numbers of books. Koreans improved on other Chinese inventions.
World history: connections to today, Volume one |
Woodblock painting technique was developed in the 7-8 century China. The oldest extant one is “The Mugujeonggwang daedaranigyeong” which was published in 751 AD Korea. With regard to the movable type printing technique, “Movable Type Printing” was invented by a Chinese, Pi Sheng, in 1041 and the movable metal type printing was invented in the 13th century Korea. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheongju, Korea and is currently kept in the National Library of France. |
| The earliest surviving history of Korea was compiled in 1145. Printing using moveable metallic type was invented during the thirteenth century.
The heritage of world civilizations, combined volume, seventh edition |
The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheongju, Korea and is currently kept in the National Library of France. |
| Koryu Culture – Korean artisans produced one of the great treasures of the Buddhist world- many thousands of large wooden blocks for printing all the Buddhist scriptures. This set of blocks was destroyed by the Mongols, but the disaster sparked a national effort to re create them. The more than 80,000 blocks in the new set remain in Koreatoday.
World history : Patterns of interaction |
The Korean invented movable metal type printing in the early 13th century. The oldest extant metal type printing is ‘Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo jikji simche yojeol,’ abbreviated to ‘Jikji,’ which was published in 1377 Cheongju, Korea and is currently kept in the National Library of France. |