Under the microscope
Book Description
Under the Microscope invites readers on a fascinating journey where ancient spirituality meets modern scientific inquiry. Author Sang-jin Park applies the precise lens of wood anatomy to unlock mysteries surrounding one of Buddhism's most treasured artifacts, the Tripitaka Koreana.
This thirteenth-century Korean masterpiece represents the world's oldest surviving printed Buddhist canon, containing the complete collection of sacred Buddhist texts in East Asia. For centuries, scholars have relied on fragmented historical accounts and uncertain oral traditions to understand how these remarkable woodblocks were created, where they originated, and why they have survived intact for over eight hundred years.
Park takes a revolutionary approach by examining the physical evidence itself. Through microscopic analysis of the actual woodblocks, he reveals secrets that textual research alone could never uncover. This scientific investigation transforms our understanding of both the craftsmanship and spiritual dedication that went into preserving Buddhism's most comprehensive scriptural collection.
The book demonstrates how careful observation and modern analytical techniques can illuminate the intersection of sacred tradition and human ingenuity. Readers interested in Buddhist heritage, the preservation of spiritual wisdom, and the marriage of science with religious inquiry will discover fresh insights into how ancient practitioners ensured their sacred teachings would endure across centuries.
This unique study offers a compelling example of how different ways of knowing can work together to deepen our appreciation for spiritual traditions.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)
📄 Length: 165 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Printing
- ✓ Explore Wood-engraving, Buddhist
- ✓ Explore Microscopy
- ✓ Understand Buddhist philosophy and practice
- ✓ Explore Sacred books
- ✓ Explore Block books
- ✓ Explore Wood-engraving, history
- ✓ Explore Wood
