Species Identification of Tripitaka Koreana

팔만대장경판(八萬大藏經板)의 수종(樹種)

Tripitaka Koreana was made during Koryo Dynasty from 1236 to 1251 A.D. Buddhist scriptures were engraved on 81.340 wooden plates. This study was made to identify species in these archaeological wooden plates using light and scanning electron microscopes. The results were as follows more than 62% of whole specimens investigated was Prunus sp., which was used in wooden plate 64% and wooden plate edge 56%, Pyrus sp. was used 13% of whole specimens and 31% of wooden plates. Therefore, 75% of whole Tripitaka Koreana was made by these two species. Acer sp., Betula sp., Machilus sp., Cornus sp., Daphnilhyllum sp., Prunus sp. were also identified but extreamly rare. Especially Machilus sp. and Daphnilhyllum sp. originally distributed in subtropical zone of west and south coast in Korea were identified, suggested strongly another engraving place of Tripitaka Koreana, Namhae bunsadogam.