Tripitaka Koreana recarving project launched, 800 years pursuit of global peace

800년 만에 다시 새기는 팔만대장경 나라에서 인류를 향한 염원으로 Nearly eight centuries after its creation, Korea’s UNESCO-recognized Tripitaka Koreana is set to be recarved, reviving the centuries-old practice of hand-carving Buddhist scriptures onto woodblocks. Our Shin So-eun reports from the scene. The master carves delicately, measuring each stroke with precise force to create each character with sincerity and devotion. Haeinsa Temple in Gyeongsangnam-do Province held a Buddhist ceremony on Thursday, marking a monumental journey to recarve and renew 81-thousand-258 woodblocks. Here, a rare cultural honor is found, as both the Janggyeong Panjeon depositories and the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks housed within them have earned UNESCO recognition. “Today, humanity faces growing threats from natural disasters to war. Just as our ancestors carved each character of the Buddha’s teachings and successfully moved on, we hope this undertaking will inspire people to envision peace for humankind" Since 2024, around 670 students have enrolled at Haeinsa Temple’s woodblock-carving school, with five cohorts admitted so far for training programs lasting two to five years. The temple aims to produce 300 graduates, with 100 expected to become skilled artisans capable of undertaking the actual work. “Our ancestors mastered techniques that even modern science and technology cannot fully explain. We may never surpass the original Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks, but I believe we can come close. Keeping the same heartfelt devotion of craving as in the past would help us achieve greatness again." The temple also welcomes diverse participants, with four foreign Buddhist monks already enrolled in the training session. "I joined this engraving project to find new meaning in the next chapter of my life. As an elementary school principal, I also hope our children can carry on the spirit of our ancestors who craved the Tripitaka Koreana." In an age of instant AI-generated information, organizers aim to complete the replication over the next 50 to 100 years, highlighting the enduring value of human patience. By preserving the Tripitaka Koreana, Haeinsa Temple hopes to turn this project into a lasting cultural exchange and spiritual journey, with global audiences uniting for shared prayers to confront today's challenges. Shin So-eun, Arirang News, Hapcheon. #TripitakaKoreana #Haeinsa #UNESCO #BuddhistHeritage #팔만대장경 #해인사 #유네스코 #불교문화유산 #arirangnews #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Youtube :    / Канал   📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2026-10-29, 20:00 (KST)