Print from one block
The text is about 9" high by 20" wide

Tripitaka Koreana
The first set of blocks took 77 year to carve and was completed in 1087, but they were lost in a fire during the Mongol invasion of Korea in 1232. The blocks on display today were carved between 1237 and 1248 to replace the earlier set and were moved from Chichon-sa in Seoul to the remote temple at Haeinsa in 1398 to be protect them from Japanese sea robbers.

Monks used wood from silver magnolias, white birches, and cherry trees from Korea's southern coast. They soaked the raw wood in water for 3 years, then cut the individual blocks. Each section was then boiled in salt water to prevent decay and insect damage. Then they were thoroughly dried before being planed and carved.

Each wood block is 68 to 78 cm wide, 24 cm high, 2.6 to 4 cm thick, and weighs 2.6 to 3.8 kg. Together, the 81,258 blocks are the equivalent of 6,791 printed volumes, and contain 52,382,960 characters (Hanja). The hand carved blocks took over 16 years to complete. Designated as National Treasure #32, UNESCO has also identified the set as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Storage
All the bocks are stored in 4 storage halls in the northern side of Haein-sa: Sudarajangjon, Poppojon, Dongpandang, Seopandang. The buildings are typical of the Joseon period in which they were built- hipped roofs with supporting pillars, and have been designated as National Treasure #52. The foundations have been reinforced with charcoal, lime powder, and clay to help maintain a constant temperature and control humidity. The effective climate control has helped preserve the Tripitaka Koreana for over 750 years! Inside each building, the wood blocks are arranged along 2 lines of shelves with 5 tiers each.