Chronology of events in the history of Chinese printing

Sixth century Sui or before Sui

Thousands of imprinted Buddha statues found in Dunhuang, Turpan and other places are the relics of the Sui Dynasty or before the Sui Dynasty, and are the transitional printing form from seal stamping to woodcut brush printing.

Lu Shen "He Fen Yan idle record" cloud: "Sui Wendi open emperor 13 years on December 8, imperial reschews the relics of the order carved." Some say that printing began in the Sui Dynasty.

Early 7th century Sui

It is recorded in the literature that Lu Taiyi of Sui Dynasty knew his characters by touching books blind. Some people think he was touching a book. However, it is difficult to determine whether this book is a book for block printing or a block for rubbing.

636 Tang Zhenguan ten years

Shao Jingbang, a historian of the Ming Dynasty, recorded in his Hongjianlu that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty had ordered Empress Changsun's last work, The Female Rule, in the tenth year of Zhenguan. This is the earliest known printed book in the literature. According to this, it can be confirmed that printing was used for book printing before the 10th year of Tang Zhenguan (636).

The early Tang Dynasty in the 7th century

Four years in Xi 'an Tang tomb unearthed Sanskrit Doloni mantra, its burial objects are the early Tang or Sui dynasty relics, Shaanxi Province archaeological identification as the early Tang printed matter.

Before 649 Tang Dynasty

Appeared the world's first printed card deck.

"Southern Xinjiang Archaeological Catalogue" recorded "wispy flower template". The stencil of wispy flower belongs to "hole plate". It appeared around the same time as block printing. Fabric leakage since Qin and Han dynasties was much earlier than this.

From the 19th year of Zhenguan Tang Dynasty to the first year of Linde, 645-664

After Xuanzang returned from India (645), he once "printed the image of the universal Bodhisattva with Hui Feng paper and gave it to four people. This is the earliest recorded use of printing by Buddhists.

699 years ago Tang Wu Zhou early, middle

In 1906, a printed copy of Lianhua Sutra with the word "system" created by Empress Wu Zetian was unearthed in Turpan, Xinjiang.

Seventh century later Tang

In the Tang Dynasty, chintz was popular, and the patterns of the cloth were printed. The nip valerian technique originated from Qin and Han Dynasties, including fabric screen printing. It has to do with the invention of screen printing.

704 years ago Tang Chang 'an four years ago

The Chinese "Unsullized Jingguang Dalonyi Sutra" found in Bulguk Temple in Gyeongju, South Korea, is believed by experts to be a carved print during the reign of Wu Zetian in Tang Dynasty of China, between the first and fourth years of Tang Chang 'an (701-704). One of the first printed books.

713-741 years of Emperor Xuanzong Kaiyuan

The Kaiyuan Miscella, printed in the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, is the earliest newspaper printed by printing in the world.

The year 762 was the first year of Emperor Suzong Baoying

The almanac engraved by Dadiao in the east city of the upper capital of the Tang Dynasty (Chang 'an, today's Xi 'an) is the earliest known engraved almanac. Dongshi Dadiao Home is now known as the earliest carving shop.

770 Tang Dynasty Zong Dali five years

The existing "Million Sutra Mantra" in Japan, which is believed to be engraved in 770, is the earliest printed material in existence. It has been concluded that block printing was invented in China. This means that before this, printing had been introduced to Japan.

In 783, Emperor Dezong was founded in the fourth year

Traders' tax receipts were printed in the Tang market.

In 824, Emperor Muzong Changqing was born

In Yuan Zhen's preface to Bai Juyi's Changqing Collection, there is a record of "scribing a pattern and selling it in the market".

825 The first year of Emperor Jingzong Baoli

In Yangzhou and Yuezhou, some people printed the poems of Yuan Zhen and Bai Yuetian for sale or in exchange for wine tea.

835 Emperor Wenzong Taihe ninth year

Dongchuan festival make Feng Shu play clear ban plate printing when the constitution.

847-849 Tang Xuanzong Dazhong Yuan to three years

The earliest Taoist book, the biography of Liu Hong, a Taoist alchemist, was printed in thousands of copies in present-day Jiangxi Province.

861 Tang Yizong Xiantong two years

The earliest printed medical book "New Jibei urgent moxibustion Sutra" engraving printing.

865 years ago Tang Yi Zong Xian Tong six years ago

Xichuan (present-day Sichuan Province) engraved "Jade Essay" and "Tang Yun".

In the sixth year of Xiantong (865), Zongrui, a Japanese monk who came to China, took away the miscellaneous books when he returned home, including one of the "Jade Pieces" and one of "Tang Yun".

Tang Yun, written by Tang Wu Cailuan in the Palace Museum in Beijing, is the earliest existing whirlwind edition.

868 Tang Yi Zong Xiantong nine years

The Vajra-Prajna Paramita Sutra, engraved in the ninth year of the Tang Dynasty (868) and found in the Dunhuang grottoes in the existing British Museum, is the earliest printed book with a clear date and exquisite title picture in the world.

869 Tang Yi Zong Xiantong ten years

Dongdu (today Luoyang) Beloved Temple monk Hui 礭 Mu margin re-engraved "law Shu".

Tang Xizong remained loyal for four years in 877

The almanac engraved by Tang Ganfu in the fourth year is the earliest printed almanac in the world.

In 883, Tang Xizong became neutral for three years

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, there was a Fan appreciation book shop in Chengdu to print and sell almanacs.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, the "Mantra book" engraved and sold by the Bian family of Longchi Fang, Chengdu County, Chengdu Prefecture, is the earliest combined Chinese and Sanskrit book known in the world.

909-913 Five dynasties ago Shu Wu Cheng two years to Yongping three years

Daote Jing Guang Shengyi, engraved by Ren Zhiyuan, is the earliest printed version of Laozi.

921 years ago after five dynasties Liang Longde Yuan years ago

Later Liang has "Xu Yin Fu" printed copies for sale.

923 years ago, five years ago

The former Shu Shi Tan Yu engraved "Zen moon poetry collection".

932-953 years after the five dynasties Tang Changxing three years to later Zhou Guangshun three years

Later Tang Prime Minister Feng Dao and Li Yu played the engraving "nine classics". After four dynasties and 22 years. This is the beginning of the Chinese supervision book, but also the first grand engraving project in history. At the same time, it also engraved the "Five Classics" and "Nine classics"; Later, he engraved Tang Ludeming's "Classic Explanation Text".

Around 935 after Shu Mingde two years

Wu Zhao, the prime minister of Later Shu, spent his own money in Chengdu to print books such as Selected Literature, Beginner's Record, and Bai's Six Pieces, which is considered to be the beginning of "home carving" in China.

937-942 later Jin Tianfu two to seven years

In Qingzhou (now Shandong Province), some people sold engravings of the law called "The Prince's Judgment".

936-943 later Jin Tianfu period

Ming Dynasty Yang Shou Chen You "...... Jin Tianfu has a copper version of the "nine classics", which can be imprinted on paper and ink, and there is no way to write.

Around 939 after the Jin Tianfu four years

Wu Yueshu Yanshou engraved the "Mizha Sutra" and other Buddhist sutras, and personally engraved 140,000 copies of the Mizha pagoda.

947-950 Later Han Tianfu (Later Han extended to the Later Jin Nian title) twelve years to three years of Qianyou

Cao Yuanzhong carved "Diamond Sutra" and Buddha statues such as Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and Great Saint Vishamun in Guazhou (present-day Dunhuang), below the above picture, with the words of crafters Lei Yanmei. Lei Yanmei is the earliest known engraver.

953 years after Zhou Guangshun

Wu Zhao, the prime minister of Later Shu, made a fortune of millions, ran a school hall, and engraved the Nine Classics.

Around 955 Zhou Xiande two years ago

He Ning, a writer in the later Zhou Dynasty, was good at short songs and melodies, and he would write his own collection on the board and print hundreds of volumes for others. This is the earliest record of a writer engraving his own work in history.

956-975 later Zhou Xiande for three years to Song Kaibao for eight years

Qian Hongchu (Qian Chu), king of Wu Yue, engraved the "All Tathagatai Heart Secret Whole Body Shiri Treasure Box Indoloni Sutra" and enclosed it in the Xiguan Brick Pagoda (today's Leifeng Pagoda in Hangzhou's West Lake).

956 Song Taizu Gander three years

Qian Hongchu (Qian Chu), king of Wu Yue, engraved 84,000 volumes of the Treasure Box Printing Sutras.

971-983 Song Taizu Kaibao four years to Taizong Taiping Xingguo eight years

Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, ordered Gao Pin and Zhang Congxin to go to Yizhou (present-day Chengdu) to supervise the more than 5,000 volumes of the Diao Tripitaka, known as the "Kaitreasure" or "Song Kaibao Magazine Shu Tripitaka". It took 12 years. It is the beginning of large-scale engraving of Buddhist sutras in Chinese history.

973-974 Song Taizu Kaibao six to seven years

The Song Dynasty Guozijian engraved "Kaibao new detailed determination of Materia Medica", the next year renamed "Kaibao Redetermination of Materia Medica".

974 Song Taizu Kaibao seven years

Qian Hongchu, king of Wu Yue, printed 24 kinds of Guanyin images with silk brush, totaling 20,000 copies.

975 Song Taizu opened treasure eight years

Qian Hongchu (Qian Chu), king of Wu Yue, printed the Buddhist mantra Tatu Buddha, and there are 622,000 volumes available.

981 Song Taizong Taiping Xingguo six years

"Taiping Guangji" was engraved in the first month of the sixth year of Taiping Xingguo, but because the content of the book was "not urgently needed for later study", it was not printed in time, and was stored in Taiqing Building.

985 Song Taizong Yongxi second year

The Prince of Song imprinted the Five Classics of Justice.

990 Song Taizong Chunhua first year Liao dynasty and eight years

Shang Sheng Jing Shukewen of Liao Dynasty, found in the wooden pagoda of Fogong Temple in Yingxian County, Shanxi Province, is an early engraved print with date records in the Liao Dynasty.

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

Let the roads be paved with new money and printed on new patterns. Only Sichuan still has the old system.

1112-1151 Song Emperor Huizong administration and the second year to Gaozong Shaoxing 21 years

Fuzhou Kaiyuan Temple carved and printed "Bilu Dachang" 6,132 volumes.

In 1114, Emperor Huizong ruled for four years

Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty will collect Taoist suicide letters since Taizong, after ordering Taoist priest Liu Guangdao school set, sent to Fuzhou Min County to repay the light filial piety (or longevity view), so that Fuzhou Governor Huang Shang recruited carved, named "longevity Taoist Collection", also known as "government and longevity Taoist collection".

1126 Song Emperor Qinzong Jingkang Yuan annuity Tianhui four years

After the Jin captured Song's Tokyo Kaifeng, he repeatedly asked for the secretary of the third hall of the Imperial Secret Map, as well as the printing plate of the Imperial secret and the Taoist scriptures. The Song people took the book version and the library map, sent to Jinying for delivery, resulting in the Song and the Song before the great loss of map.

In 1130, Emperor Gaozong of Song Dynasty built four years of Yan and eight years of Jin Tianhui

The Jin Dynasty set up a classics office in Pingyang and published classics.

1134 Song Gaozong Shaoxing four years

Wang Yong from the private wealth, in Huzhou Sixi Yuan Jue Zen garden to carve the "Big Tibetan Sutra", a total of 5,480 volumes, known as "Sixi Yuan Jue Zang", referred to as "Sixi Zang".

1135 Song Gaozong five years of Shaoxing

The Song ordered each state and county to print three volumes of existing books, and the civilian officials paid for the paper and ink.

1138-1173 Song Emperor Gaozong eight years Shaoxing to Song Emperor Xiaozong road nine years

Gold engraving "Jin Zang", also known as "Zhaocheng Guangsheng Temple Zang", referred to as "Zhaocheng Zang". Most of the craftsmen of the Golden Zang were monks. There are over 4,000 volumes in existence. Roller mount type.

1139 Song Gaozong nine years Shaoxing

Under the Song states to learn, take the old supervision of the book engraving printing.

1144 Song Gaozong Shaoxing fourteen years

The imperial edict decreed that all troops should have books engraved and printed on yellow paper to send to the secretary province.

1151 Song Gaozong Shaoxing twenty-one year

Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty ordered that the missing books and periodicals of the Imperial Academy be printed.

1153 Song Gaozong Shaoxing twenty-three years

Feng ◆ With a stipend, he has successively printed and produced forty-eight collections of Buddhist sutras, "Great Collection" and "Little Collection".

1154 Song Gaozong Shaoxing twenty-four years Jin Zhenyuan two years

Gold banknotes are issued "hand over banknotes", engraved with regular to ten large notes, one hundred to seven hundred small notes, and can be exchanged for new within seven years.

During the period of Song Shaoxing, the paper money related to the son, public documents and Huai Jiao was printed and issued.

1155 Song Shaoxing 25 years

The Map of Wind Geography of the Fifteen Countries was published in the Six Classics Map compiled by Yang Jia of Song Dynasty, which is the earliest printed map in existence.

1160-1161 Song Gaozong Shaoxing thirty years to thirty-one years

Song Gaozong Shaoxing thirty years with a copper plate brush printed paper money "Hui Zi", the next year placed the hui zi business, under the supervision of the field line in the Hui Zi library.

1164-1166 Song Emperor Xiaozong Longxing two years to Trunk road two years of the grand fixed four to six years

The Jin Dynasty printed and issued books such as Shang Shu, Shi Ji and Han Shu translated in the Nuzhen language.