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Cheongju Heungdeoksa Temple Site (청주 흥덕사지)

Cheongju Heungdeoksa Temple Site (청주 흥덕사지)

Introduction

A large number of relics were unearthed at this site due to a land development project in 1985. Work was halted and relics were excavated by the Cheongju University Museum. The time and size of Heungdeoksa
Temple is unknown, but according to Jikji (Buljojikjisimcheyojeol, the world’s oldest existing book printed with movable metal type), the
excavated books were printed using metal types at the temple in the third year of King Uwang’s reign (1377). The books were published 78 years earlier than Gutenberg’s invention.

In 1972, the Jikji was officially recognized as the world’s oldest book printed with movable metal type during the International Book Year. The Buljojikjisimcheyojeol is
currently kept at the National Library of France.

Basic Information

Address 713, Jikji-daero, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (28472)
Phone +82-43-201-2022
Website www.cheongju.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
www.cha.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Last Updated 2020/03/27
Information • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-43-201-2022

Location

Additional Images