Woodblock printing, known as the "living fossil" in the printing history, still retains its traditional charm today.
After its invention in ancient China,
woodblock printing replaced hand-copying,
making book-publishing more efficient,
and promoted the development and progress of culture.
Woodblock printing originated in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 A.D).
It integrated papermaking, ink making, engraving, and copying.
The earliest dated woodblock print (The Diamond Sutra, 868 A.D., the 9th year of Xiantong, Tang Dynasty) revealed detailed carving, heavy and dignified graphics,
demonstrating the high level of printing technology. In the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 A.D),
woodblock printed books were quite popular.
Books were well engraved with quality ink on fine paper. (“a page of Song book is worth one tael of gold ")
The steps of woodblock printing are simple, but the craftsmanship is exquisite.
First, engrave the woodblock.
Choose a smooth wooden board and paste the neatly copied manuscript on the reverse side.
Outline every word and leave blank space. Between the turn of the hand, the text "stands out" from the wooden board.
Second, print out the text. Coat the engraved board with ink evenly, put the paper atop the board, and run the hand over the back of the paper (dip ink and paint).
The handwriting will "jump onto the paper".
The third step is bookbinding. The pages of the printed manuscript are gathered, collated, then bound into a book.
The ancient Chinese civilization is engraved through this craftsmanship. So many legends are printed into eternal moments and spread widely.
责任编辑：【罗攀】
