Haeinsa Temple

7 Libraries Set Inside UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Condé Nast Traveler

"At Haeinsa, a 9th-century Buddhist temple in Gayasan National Park, these depositories stand as a rare example of architecture built entirely for preservation. Housing the Tripitaka Koreana—over 80,000 13th-century woodblocks containing one of the most accurate editions of Buddhist scripture—the 15th-century buildings function as an early climate-control system: elevated floors, open slatted windows, and a careful north–south orientation regulate humidity and airflow. The result is a collection that has withstood wars, fires, and centuries of monsoon weather with minimal deterioration. Visitors cannot enter the repositories, but exterior walkways allow close views of the austere wooden structures and their distinctive clay-and-charcoal foundations, while the rest of the temple grounds remain active within a living monastic community." - Navya Verma