Haeinsa Temple located in Gayasan National Park (가야산 국립공원), Hapcheon (합천), is a temple that has delivered the teachings of Buddha for over 1,200 years since it was built in 802 during the Silla Dynasty. It is most famous for being the home of the Tripitaka Koreana (팔만대장경, 八萬大藏經 in Chinese; the 32nd national treasure of Korea), which is the complete collection of Buddhist scriptures that was carved on over 80,000 wooden blocks over a period of 16 years from 1236 to 1251.

Most of you must be unfamiliar with the Tripitaka Koreana, but, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has drawn international attention. What makes Tripitaka Koreana unique is its excellent state of preservation, such that it could even be printed on paper today; the high-quality of its workmanship is aesthetically invaluable. In the centuries before, scholars would keep wooden blocks in seawater for three years, dry them in the shade, steam them in hot water, again dry them and then, finally, lacquer them. Likewise, the wooden blocks of the Tripitaka Koreana underwent a long and complicated preparation process before they were finally ready to be carved. Thanks to the dedication of scholars, the wooden blocks retain their original condition of some 1,000 years ago. Moreover, in the past, scholars had to make a deep bow three times every time they carved a character to gather their thoughts together and, in doing so, practice the teachings of Buddha. Their efforts and the whole process of making the Tripitaka Koreana, which was rather scientific, continue to evoke lasting respect and admiration.

The Janggyeong Panjeon (장경판전) where the Tripitaka Koreana is kept is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was because of this perfectly-designed building that the Tripitaka Koreana was able to survive in such great condition to this day without suffering any damage from humidity, wind or insects. With the windows installed on the upper and lower parts of the wall, the amount of wind and sunlight has been controlled naturally and, moreover, the wooden blocks were placed at a certain height above the ground to keep them away from insects. The thought occurred to me that, since the Tripitaka Koreana is the only perfectly preserved wooden blocks in the world, we should continue to keep such an invaluable and precious heritage of Korea in good condition and increase international awareness of it.

On my way down from Haeinsa Temple situated in Gayasan Mountain, I encountered the Old Dead Tree (고사목). This tree is thought to have been planted in celebration of the establishment of Haeinsa Temple. It has lived for over 1,200 years and only died in 1945, with its stump left. However, it remains well taken care of to this day as a way to preserve the history of Haeinsa Temple for future generations.

There remain the last vestiges of the Gaya Confederacy about 30-minutes' drive from Haeinsa Temple. In the 1970s, a professor discovered traces of a Royal Tomb, which further excavation work found to the tomb of a king that was built in the 5th century B.C. Before this tomb was discovered, the Gaya Confederacy represented only a small part in the history of Korea because there was so little information about it. However, various artifacts were excavated from this tomb, which has helped historians to better understand the culture and history of the Gaya Confederacy period. I stood and surveyed the somewhat strange sight of hundreds of ancient tombs lining the top of the high peak above.

This trip gave me a chance to enjoy the beautiful, outstanding sights of the National Park full of the flavor of late summer and learn so much about a relatively unknown part of Korean history - the Shilla Dynasty and the Gaya Confederacy. While admiring the wisdom and dedication of previous generations, I couldn't help but become more interested in history. I felt that learning the history and flow of culture is as important as seeing the latest trends when it comes to developing new and innovative products. Is there anyone who plans to come to Korea in this autumn? If you're looking for special attractions in Korea, visit Hapcheon. You will get a unique window into Korean culture and be wowed by the wisdom and technologies of previous generations.