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Heungdeok Temple Site, Cheongju

청주시, Italy

Heungdeok Temple Site, Cheongju

The former Buddhist temple Heundeoksa (Korean: 흥덕사) existed during the Unified Silla and Goryeo periods, in Heungdeok-gu, South Korea. The temple is believed to have been constructed prior to 848 and was destroyed by fire in the late 1370s. The exact location of Heungdeoksa remained unknown until 19

85, when a number of relics were discovered as part of a land development project in the area by the Korean Land Development Corporation. The Cheongju University oversaw the archaeological excavation and confirmed it was the location of the Heungdeoksa, after discovering a bronze gong and bowl, with the temple's inscription on them. The site was designated as a historic site (No. 315) on May 7, 1986. A reproduction of a Buddhist prayer hall and a three-story stone pagoda have been constructed on the site based on the excavation survey. The temple was where the Buljojikjisimcheyojoel, the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, was printed. The book was compiled by the Buddhist monk, Baegun, in 1374, and was printed using movable metal type at the temple in the third year of King Uwang's reign (1377). This book precedes the publication of the Gutenberg Bible (published...

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