15 Facts About Jikji

Jikji is the abbreviated title of a Korean Buddhist document whose title can be translated to "Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings".

The greater part of the Jikji is lost, and today only the last volume survives, and is kept at the Manuscrits Orientaux division of the National Library of France.

Jikji later served as the chief priest of Anguksa and Shingwangsa temples in Haeju, Hwanghae Province, and was published in two volumes in Seongbulsan in 1372.

The metal-print Jikji that was published in Heungdeok Temple is kept in the Manuscrits Orientaux division of the National Library of France, with the first page of the last volume torn off.

The Jikji originally consisted of two volumes totaling 307 chapters, but the first volume of the metal printed version is no longer extant.

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The title of Jikji seems to be written with an Indian ink after the original.

Metal-printed Jikji became known to the world in 1901 through its inclusion in the appendix of the Hanguk Seoji, compiled by the French Sinologist and scholar of Korea, Maurice Courant.

In 1972 the Jikji was displayed in Paris during the "International Book Year" hosted by the National Library of France, gaining it worldwide attention for the first time.

Only the final volume of the Jikji is preserved by the Manuscrits Orientaux department of the National Library of France.

Restoration process of the lower volume of Jikji was completed in 2013, restoring pages 2 to 14 by January of 2012 and pages 15 to 29 in January of 2013.

Only one incomplete copy of the metal type printed Jikji remains, missing information was filled in by referring to the woodblock print version of Jikji, published a year after the metal type printed version.

Jikji let Kulang, who had moved to Seoul as his official secretary, classify them.

Right of ownership remains disputed, with the French National Library maintaining that the Jikji should remain in France, while Korean activists argue it should belong to Korea.

The National Library of France says that as an important historical artifact of all mankind, the Jikji should remain in France as it represents a common, worldwide heritage, and does not belong to any one country.

However, Jikji was not included, following opposition in France, including a protest lodged by the librarians at the National Library.