THE RECORD
What changed
The Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings was printed in 1377; one volume survives at the National Library of France.
EVIDENCE
What remains
Its colophon names Heungdeok Temple and metal type; paper, ink and impressions reveal production.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
It demonstrates practical metal type in East Asia before Europe and a multicentred history of print.
OPEN QUESTION
Where interpretation begins
Jikji is the oldest surviving metal-type book, not necessarily the first use; earlier Korean records and fragments exist.