Michael Backman Ltd - Home
Carved Woodblock for Printing
Korea
circa 18th century
length: 45cm, height: 26.8cm
This woodblock, carved in fine, precise, classical Chinese script describes a battle, perhaps from some Buddhist epic. It is carved on both
sides with 21 columns of script. The script is carved in reverse so that it will appear the right way on the printed page.
Both the outer sides of the handles of woodblock have (somewhat faded) Chinese script which provide a title for the woodblock in the
manner of the title and author given along the spine of a book. The condition of the block is very good, especially given its age. There is no
damage to the letters, only some slight age-related warping to the wood but this has largely been kept in check by the handles.
The wood used in the woodblock is soft and pine-like; possibly it is magnolia wood. Typically such blocks were coated with a natural lacquer
that repelled insects.
Korea has an extraordinary history of printing. Woodblock printing began in the eighth century and the world’s first printing with moveable
typeface was invested in Korea 200 years before Gutenberg designed it in Germany.
This woodblock is similar to the famous woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana (Buddhist Canon), commissioned by the Goryeo Dynasty and
which encompass discourses with the Buddha, regulations for monastic life, and commentaries by renowned monks and scholars.
The carving of the woodblocks for the Tripitaka Koreana began in the early eleventh century and was completed in 1087. They were
destroyed during the thirteenth-century Mongol invasions. Another version was carved to replace that which was destroyed. This version
was completed in 1251 and survives to this day. It contains 81,258 woodblocks each of which is carved on both sides, similar t the example
shown here. It is stored at the Haein-sa Monastery in the southwest of the Korean peninsular. It and the Monastery are listed by UNESCO
as a World Heritage site.
Other woodblocks were commissioned in subsequent centuries to record miscellaneous Buddhist scriptures to supplement the Tripitaka. It
is likely that the example here is one of these.
The Library of Congress in Washington holds a Korean printing woodblock of similar style and proportions to the one shown here.
Inventory no.: 451
This Item is available - Ask about this item
Carved Woodblock for Printing
Korea
circa 18th century
length: 45cm, height: 26.8cm
This woodblock, carved in fine, precise, classical Chinese script describes a battle, perhaps from some Buddhist epic. It is carved on both
sides with 21 columns of script. The script is carved in reverse so that it will appear the right way on the printed page.
Both the outer sides of the handles of woodblock have (somewhat faded) Chinese script which provide a title for the woodblock in the
manner of the title and author given along the spine of a book. The condition of the block is very good, especially given its age. There is no
damage to the letters, only some slight age-related warping to the wood but this has largely been kept in check by the handles.
The wood used in the woodblock is soft and pine-like; possibly it is magnolia wood. Typically such blocks were coated with a natural lacquer
that repelled insects.
Korea has an extraordinary history of printing. Woodblock printing began in the eighth century and the world’s first printing with moveable
typeface was invested in Korea 200 years before Gutenberg designed it in Germany.
This woodblock is similar to the famous woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana (Buddhist Canon), commissioned by the Goryeo Dynasty and
which encompass discourses with the Buddha, regulations for monastic life, and commentaries by renowned monks and scholars.
The carving of the woodblocks for the Tripitaka Koreana began in the early eleventh century and was completed in 1087. They were
destroyed during the thirteenth-century Mongol invasions. Another version was carved to replace that which was destroyed. This version
was completed in 1251 and survives to this day. It contains 81,258 woodblocks each of which is carved on both sides, similar t the example
shown here. It is stored at the Haein-sa Monastery in the southwest of the Korean peninsular. It and the Monastery are listed by UNESCO
as a World Heritage site.
Other woodblocks were commissioned in subsequent centuries to record miscellaneous Buddhist scriptures to supplement the Tripitaka. It
is likely that the example here is one of these.
The Library of Congress in Washington holds a Korean printing woodblock of similar style and proportions to the one shown here.
Inventory no.: 451
This Item is available - Ask about this item
(The other side of the printing block)