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johannes who?   06.22.2007, 11:42 AM

posted by ben vershbow

This is the oldest existing document in the world printed with metal movable type: an anthology of Zen teachings, Goryeo Dynasty, Korea... 1377. It's a little known fact, at least in the West, that movable type was first developed in Korea circa 1230, over 200 years before that goldsmith from Mainz came on the scene. I saw this today in the National Library of Korea in Seoul (more on that soon). This book is actually a reproduction. The original resides in Paris and is the subject of a bitter dispute between the French and Korean governments.

Posted by ben vershbow on June 22, 2007 11:42 AM
tags: books, gutenberg, korea, libraries, library, movabletype, printing

comments (2):

alex itin on June 22, 2007 3:52 PM:

wonderous lovely. Thanks for this

xensen on June 23, 2007 1:25 AM:

I have an essay on this subject, here.

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