With the advancement of Joseon’s publishing culture, Buddhist scriptures were actively printed and circulated. In the fifteenth century, Buddhist texts were published through royal and government patronage. To reach the common people, who typically could not read Chinese characters, scriptures began to be printed in the newly created Korean script of Hangeul. These royal editions were distributed nationwide and later reprinted in temples across the country during the sixteenth century. Temples also published scriptures for practical use in prayer, study, and rituals.