Elena Rossi
The Tang Dynasty, which lasted from 618 to 906 or 907 AD, is considered a golden age of Chinese arts and culture. During this period, woodblock printing was developed, with examples of its development dating to around 600 AD and its common use increasing during the ninth century. This innovation enabled the widespread publishing of texts, facilitating the dissemination of knowledge and literacy. Woodblock printing was initially used for books on agriculture and medicine, calendars, calligraphy, and auspicious charms. It also played a significant role in the spread of information and commercial transactions in China. The development of woodblock printing during the Tang Dynasty transformed the shape and structure of books, with scrolls being replaced by concertina binding, and later, whirlwind and butterfly binding.
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What You'll Learn
Woodblock printing was invented in the Tang Dynasty
The invention of woodblock printing was one of the most globally significant innovations of the Tang Dynasty. It enabled the widespread publishing of a variety of texts and images, revolutionising the way information was spread and commercial transactions were conducted in China. Woodblock printing also played a crucial role in the development of a sophisticated paper industry, with various specialised papers created for different purposes.
The earliest known examples of woodblock printing in China date back to before 220 AD, with the earliest colour woodblock printing discovered in silk from the Han Dynasty, printed in three colours. By the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty, woodblock printing was commonly used, especially for religious texts. The earliest dated book printed using woodblocks is a fragment of a Buddhist miniature scroll called the "Great Spell of Unsullied Pure Light", unearthed in a tomb in Xi'an.
Woodblock printing was initially used for printing books on agriculture and medicine, calendars, calligraphy, and auspicious charms. In 762 CE, the first commercially printed books were sold in the markets of Chang'an, the Tang capital. In 782 CE, printed papers were used as receipts for business transactions and tax payments. Woodblock printing remained the dominant method of printing in East Asia until the 19th century, even as movable-type printing was introduced during the Song Dynasty.
Woodblock printing also transformed the shape and structure of books. Scrolls were replaced by concertina binding, which allowed for easier reference without unfolding the entire document. Later, whirlwind binding and butterfly binding were developed, allowing for the creation of codices with alternating printed and blank pages.
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It enabled the widespread publishing of texts
The Tang Dynasty (618–906 CE) is considered a golden age of Chinese arts and culture. One of its most globally significant innovations was the invention of woodblock printing, which enabled the widespread publishing of texts and the dissemination of knowledge and literacy.
Woodblock printing was inspired by the older use of bronze or stone seals to make impressions on clay and silk, as well as the practice of taking inked rubbings of inscribed texts from reliefs. The process for block printing on paper was perfected by the end of the Tang Dynasty, and the technology soon spread throughout East Asia, the Middle East, and eventually Western Europe.
Woodblock printing played a crucial role in the spread of information and commercial transactions in China. Initially, it was mainly used for printing books on agriculture and medicine, calendars, calligraphy, and auspicious charms. The first commercially printed books were sold in the markets of Chang'an, the Tang capital, in 762 CE. Printed papers were also used for receipts in business transactions and tax payments from 782 CE onwards.
The development of woodblock printing also changed the shape and structure of books. Scrolls were gradually replaced by concertina binding, which allowed for easier reference without unfolding the entire document. Butterfly binding, developed around 1000 CE, allowed for the printing of two mirror images on a single sheet, creating two pages that could be folded inwards and pasted together to form a codex.
The maturation of woodblock printing led to the emergence of official, commercial, and private publishing businesses, and the size and number of book collections grew exponentially. Woodblock printing remained the most common East Asian method of printing books and other texts until the 19th century.
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It was used for religious texts and images
The Tang Dynasty, which lasted from 618 to 906 or 907 AD, is considered a golden age of Chinese arts and culture. It witnessed significant innovations, including the invention of woodblock printing, which enabled the widespread publishing of texts and facilitated the dissemination of knowledge and literacy.
Woodblock printing was used for a variety of purposes, including the printing of books, calendars, and religious texts. It played a crucial role in the spread of information and commercial transactions in China. One of the most significant applications of woodblock printing during the Tang Dynasty was in the reproduction of religious texts and images, particularly those associated with Buddhism.
Buddhism flourished during the Tang Dynasty, and its practices spread Chinese culture across Asia. The Mahayana school of Buddhism believes that religious texts hold intrinsic value as they carry the Buddha's word and possess sacred power. By copying and preserving these texts, Buddhists could accrue personal merit. As a result, Buddhists embraced woodblock printing as a means to quickly replicate religious texts and images.
Woodblock printing was used to create apotropaic documents, such as ritual items that were buried in consecrated ground rather than being widely circulated. The earliest example of this type of printed matter is a fragment of a dhāraṇī (Buddhist spell) miniature scroll unearthed in a tomb in Xi'an. It was printed using woodblock during the Tang Dynasty and is called the "Great spell of unsullied pure light" (Wugou jingguang da tuoluoni jing 無垢淨光大陀羅尼經).
In addition to the printing of religious texts, woodblock printing also influenced the structure and format of books. Scrolls were gradually replaced by concertina binding, which allowed for easier reference without having to unfold the entire document. The development of whirlwind binding and butterfly binding further enhanced the functionality and accessibility of books.
The Tang Dynasty witnessed the maturation of woodblock printing, which, in turn, led to the emergence of official, commercial, and private publishing businesses. The size and number of book collections grew exponentially, reflecting the increased dissemination of knowledge and the appreciation for art and literature during this golden age of Chinese culture.
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It changed the shape and structure of books
The invention of woodblock printing by the Tang Dynasty (618–906) is considered one of the most globally significant innovations. It enabled the widespread publishing of a variety of texts, the dissemination of knowledge, and the improvement of literacy.
Woodblock printing changed the shape and structure of books. Scrolls, the traditional format for texts, were gradually replaced by concertina binding from the Tang period onwards. This new format had the advantage of allowing readers to flip to a reference without having to unfold the entire document.
The next development was whirlwind binding, which involved securing the first and last leaves to a single large sheet, so that the book could be opened like an accordion. Around the year 1000, butterfly binding was developed. Woodblock prints allowed two mirror images to be easily replicated on a single sheet, meaning two pages could be printed on a sheet, which was then folded inwards. The sheets were then pasted together at the fold to make a codex with alternate openings of printed and blank pairs of pages. In the 14th century, the folding was reversed outwards to give continuous printed pages, each backed by a hidden blank page.
Woodblock printing played an important role in the spread of information and commercial transactions in China. It was first used to print books on agriculture and medicine, calendars, calligraphy, and auspicious charms. In 762, the first commercially printed books were sold in the markets of Chang’an, the Tang capital. In 782, printed papers were available in the marketplace as receipts for business transactions and tax payments.
The maturation of woodblock printing led to the emergence of official, commercial, and private publishing businesses, and the size and number of book collections grew exponentially.
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It led to the development of a sophisticated paper industry
The Tang Dynasty, which lasted from 618 to 906 or 907 AD, is considered a golden age of Chinese arts and culture. It was during this time that the globally significant innovation of woodblock printing was developed, with examples of its development dating to around 600 and 650 AD. Woodblock printing was inspired by the older use of bronze or stone seals to make impressions on clay and silk, as well as the practice of taking inked rubbings of inscribed texts from bronze and stone reliefs.
Woodblock printing played a crucial role in the spread of information and commercial transactions in China. Initially, it was mainly used for printing books on agriculture and medicine, calendars, calligraphy, and auspicious charms. The first commercially printed books were sold in the markets of Chang'an, the Tang capital, in 762 AD. Printed papers were also used as receipts for business transactions and tax payments starting in 782 AD.
The development of woodblock printing led to the emergence of official, commercial, and private publishing businesses, resulting in an exponential growth in the size and number of book collections. This increased demand for books stimulated the development of a sophisticated paper industry, with many different specialised papers created for different purposes. The process for block printing on paper was perfected by the end of the Tang Dynasty, and the diffusion of Tang printing technology across East Asia, the Middle East, and eventually Western Europe, had a significant impact on the development of world history.
Woodblock printing also changed the shape and structure of books. Scrolls were gradually replaced by concertina binding, which allowed for easier reference as one could flip to a specific section without unfolding the entire document. Other innovations in bookbinding during this period include whirlwind binding and butterfly binding, which allowed for the replication of two mirror images on a single sheet, creating a codex with alternate openings of printed and blank pairs of pages.
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Frequently asked questions
Woodblock printing is a method of printing that involves carving a block of wood and using it to create impressions on paper, silk, or clay.
Woodblock printing was invented around 600 AD and was perfected by the end of the Tang Dynasty (618–906 AD).
Woodblock printing enabled the widespread publishing of texts, facilitating the dissemination of knowledge and literacy. It played a crucial role in the spread of information and commercial transactions, leading to the emergence of official, commercial, and private publishing businesses. Additionally, it changed the shape and structure of books, with scrolls being replaced by concertina binding.
