Chronology of events in the history of Chinese printing

994 Song Taizong Chunhua five years

In the Song Dynasty, the Guozijian Book Printing and money and Materials Office was changed into the Guozijian book depositary officer, who was responsible for printing classics and history books for the imperial court to claim, give or sell.

1003-1038 Song Zhenzong Xianping six years Zhibao Yuan year

The Khitan Zang, also known as the Liao Zang, was printed in the Liao Dynasty from 21 years to the seventh year of the Chongxi Dynasty, totaling more than 6,000 volumes. On July 28, 1974, fragments of the Khitan Zang were found on the chest of a Buddha statue in the wooden pagoda of Fogong Temple in Yingxian County, Shanxi Province.

In 1005, the second year of Jingde under Emperor Zhenzong

Sichuan folk appeared in China, but also the world's earliest printed paper money "Jiaozi". Jiaozi appeared among the people and was freely distributed by merchants.

1007 Song Zhenzong Jingde four years

Liao Shengzong Dynasty and Liao Yanjing Minzhong Temple in the 25th year engraved "Buddha Image Placement in the Fa Seri Record (Compilation)".

1023 Song Renzong Tiansheng first year

Song Dynasty officially set up "Jiaozi affairs" in Yizhou, issued paper money "Jiaozi", known as "Guan Jiaozi". This was the beginning of the Chinese government's engagement in the printing and issuance of banknotes.

1025 Song Renzong Tiansheng three years

The governor of the State of Song imprinted the Five Classics.

1027 Song Renzong Tiansheng five years

Song Guozi supervised the establishment and printing of the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classics, Difficult Classics, and Bronze Figures of Acupuncture and moxibustion Classics.

1041-1048 Song Renzong Qingli year from the first to the eighth year

Bi Sheng, an engraving and printing craftsman in the Northern Song Dynasty, invented movable type printing. The movable type invented by Bi Sheng is made of clay and is known as clay movable type. Before the development of mastic movable type, he first developed wood movable type, because wood movable type stained with water (printing ink) and sticky, and then changed to mastic type. Bi Sheng's invention is considered to be an epoch-making invention in the history of printing.

Monk Zhi Zhi, a Khitan aristocrat, raised three million yuan to engrave the Tibetan sutras in Yandu (present-day Beijing).

Among the cultural relics unearthed in Yingxian wooden pagoda, there are many colorful printed Buddha paintings. Among them, "Incandescent light Buddha descent Jiuyao Star Guanfang Suxiang" is the world's earliest, largest and most precise engraving and coloring print; The three Shakyas are the earliest extant silk color Buddha paintings in the world. It is the physical evidence of overprinting in the Song and Liao dynasties.

1059 Song Renzong Jiayou four years

Wang Qi imprinted ten thousand copies of Du Fu's "Du Gongbu Collection" in Suzhou.

In 1064, the first year of Emperor Ping of Song and English Dynasty, Liao Qing Ning ten years

Before the rule of peace, the Song Dynasty engraved books had to declare the Imperial College. This rule was not relaxed until the Xining years.

Liao forbade private printing of characters, and those who introduced books into Song territory were punished with death. He also issued an edict requesting books and ordered scholars to proofread them to make up for the lack of books.

1071 Song Shenzong Xining four years

Imperial edict ordered the Department of Heaven supervision to print and sell calendars and prohibited private printing.

Send the version of the Tripitaka to be printed in the Shengshou Monastery of the Xiansheng Temple.

1080-1103 Song Emperor Shenzong Yuanfeng three years to Emperor Huizong Chongning two years

Fuzhou East Zen Temple and other Jue Yuan presided over Chong Zhen, etc., in the Song Shenzong Yuanfeng three years (1080) to initiate fundraising, engraving and printing of the "Big Tibetan Sutra", the world known as "Fuzhou East Zen Temple", referred to as "Fuzang", also known as "Chongning longevity". It contains 6,434 volumes and 479 letters, folded and bound.

1086 Song Zhe Zong Yuan You first year

It is decreed that the book of "Comprehensive Reference on Capital Management" should be engraved and printed in Hangzhou.

1094 The first year of the Song Dynasty

Some people in the capital of Song shouted to sell the "New science No.1 list" printed with wax. This is the earliest known wax printing.

In the Song Dynasty, in addition to the official newspaper "Chaobao", which was compiled and published daily by the later provinces, there were many newspapers such as "Inside Tanner", "Provincial Tanner" and "Nga Tanner". Newspaper printing has developed rapidly.

1103 The second year of Emperor Huizong

Using the clay type printing technique invented by Bi Sheng, he printed the Buddhist Sutra of the Buddha's Saying View of Infinite Longevity. The remaining printed pages of this manuscript are the earliest extant clay type prints.

1105 Song Emperor Huizong Chongning four years