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Tang Dynasty Woodblock Printing

Type Object Region China Time 618–700

The mature woodblock printing technique of the Tang, marked by the mass reproduction of Buddhist scriptures, calendars, and classics, moved the copyi…

Timeline

  1. c. 618–640Chang'an · ShaanxiIn the early Tang, building on stele carving and rubbing experience from the Sui and earlier periods, temples and government offices began using woodblocks to print Buddhist scriptures and a few classics; the technique was still at the stage of experimentation and limited application.
  2. c. 640–680Luoyang · HenanWith the flourishing of Buddhism and the development of the imperial examination system, temples and bookshops printed Buddhist scriptures such as the Diamond Sutra, as well as calendars and rhyme books, on a large scale; carving, printing, and binding processes became standardized.
  3. c. 680–700Chang'an · ShaanxiGovernment offices printed Confucian classics and historical works, and private bookshops were also active; woodblock printing became one of the main means of reproducing texts, laying the technical foundation for the Song dynasty book printing industry.

Sources