The House of Asia in Cuba received on Friday a replica of Jikji, the oldest printed book in metal among the existing ones in the world, a donation that Cuba granted to the embassy of the Republic of Korea in Mexico, as part of the 28th International Fair of the Book (FIL) dedicated to the 500 anniversary of the foundation of Havana.

The Jikji was published in 1377, in the Heungdeok temple, in the oldest known printing press of mobile metal types, 78 years before Gutenberg published the 42-line bible.

The director of the House of Asia in Cuba, Yamir Macias, thanked the donation of a piece so curious and related to spirituality.

Jikji is the abbreviated title of this Buddhist document whose translation into Spanish refers to the anthology made by the monk Baegun of the teachings of the high priests on the identification of the spirit of Buddha through the practice of Seon.

The work contains a collection of extracts from the analects of the most prominent Buddhist monks over several generations.

The House of Asia, located in the Historic Center of the City of Havana, will keep the work exposed for a month at its headquarters, and then go to the public library of the Casa de Asia so that it can be consulted by all interested parties.

Source: CMBF National Musical Radio Website
Edition: Digital Writing of Havana 500