The process of invention and development of block printing

If the cultural development of about 4,000 years since ancient times created the necessary prerequisites for the invention of printing, such as standardized writing, engraving techniques, material materials, and graphic transfer techniques (these conditions were very mature by about the third century AD). Then, the Sui and Tang cultures provided social conditions for the invention of printing, and it was under such a social background that block printing came into being.

Since the Eastern Han Dynasty. China has been divided and chaotic for more than 300 years. In the Sui Dynasty, it became unified again. The cultural achievements of the Sui government are to vigorously promote Buddhism, respect Confucianism, and extensively collect ancient classics and books. The monument of scientific and technological engineering is to build the Grand Canal that has been running for ages. As a result of advocating the imperial examination system. Increase the number of readers. Confucian classics spread widely. In particular, at that time, there were many monasteries, many monks, and endless copying of Buddhist sutras, which made people urgently need a quick way to copy pictures and texts, which inspired the invention of printing.

By the Tang Dynasty. It was the heyday of culture and science and technology in Chinese history. Under the social atmosphere of national unity, political openness and cultural prosperity, people have a large demand for books. All these provided good conditions for the birth of printing. Historical documents and physical evidence, prompting the invention of printing there are two major social factors: one is the prosperity of Buddhism. Need large quantities of Buddhist sutras, Buddha paintings; Second, the implementation of the imperial examination system stimulated more people to study. There is a great demand for books. Sui and Tang societies all had these two conditions. As the Ming Dynasty scholar Hu Yinglin said: "Engraving (printing) originated in the Sui Dynasty, in the Tang Dynasty, expanded in the five dynasties. Be good at Song people." This is an accurate summary of the invention and development of printing.

Block printing

Block printing is the technique of engraving text and text on plate material. Its development in China has experienced from seals, ink to stone tablets to engravings. And then to the stages of the type. The plate material of block printing is generally selected with fine and solid wood texture. Such as jujube wood, pear wood, etc. The process of plate making and printing is: first write the word on a thin and transparent tissue paper, paste it face down on the board, use a carving knife to carve the word in a font, and then add ink to the engraved plate. The paper is covered on the plate, the brush is brushed, and the words are transferred to the paper and become positive characters.

The date of the invention of block printing is not known, but the academic community generally dates its beginning to the 7th century. Early printing activities were mainly carried out in the folk, mostly used to print Buddha statues, sutras, votive texts and almanacs. In the early Tang Dynasty, Xuanzang used Hui Feng paper to print images of universal sages and give them to monks and nuns. In 1966, a carved version of the Dharani Sutra was discovered in South Korea, engraved between 704-751. It is the earliest known block print. Now collected in the Museum of London, England, Tang Chengtong nine years (868) Wang Jie for two kin Jing created Pusshi's "Diamond Sutra". It is the earliest surviving block print with a date. This piece consists of seven sheets of paper glued together into a roll. Total length 488 cm, each paper height 76.3 cm. It is 30.5 cm wide, with a Buddha statue engraved on the front and all the scriptures engraved on the bottom. This volume of printing is beautifully carved, skilled in knife technique, simple and dignified, the ink color of printing is also thick and symmetrical, clear and vivid, and the engraving technology has reached a higher level.

By the 9th century, the use of block printing was quite common. During the Five Dynasties, not only the folk books were popular, but the government also printed Confucian books on a large scale. From the third year of Emperor Changxing in the later Tang Dynasty (932) to the third year of Guangshun in the later Zhou Dynasty (953), the Nine Classics, the Five Classics Characters, and the Nine Classics were engraved in two volumes, 130 volumes. In the Song Dynasty, the block printing was more developed and the technology was perfected, especially in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Jianyang, Fujian and Chengdu, Sichuan, the engraving quality was high. Song Taizu Kaibao fourth year (971) Zhang Tuxin carved and published all the "Tripitaka" in Chengdu, a total of 22 years, a total of 1,076 volumes, 5,048 volumes, engraving up to 130,000 pieces, is the largest book in the early printing history. In the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, there were not only government offices at all levels, but also academies, bookhouses and private individuals. The books engraved are in four parts: classics, histories, books and collections.