Chinese Woodblock Printing

Timeline

1. c. 501–580Dunhuang · GansuDuring the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the flourishing of Buddhism drove a surge in demand for sutras. In places such as Dunhuang and Sichuan, practices emerged of printing Buddhist images, spells, and scriptures from wood or stone blocks. The technique was still exploratory, with limited print runs, but already embodied the basic steps of woodblock printing: writing the exemplar, carving the block, inking, and pressing paper.
2. 581–600Chang'an · ShaanxiAfter the Sui unified north and south, centralized rule and state-sponsored Buddhism advanced together; temples and government offices in Chang'an, Luoyang, and elsewhere began systematically printing Buddhist scriptures and legal texts. Woodblock technique became standardized: hard woods such as pear and jujube were chosen, blocks were carved from reversed writing, paper and ink quality improved, and print runs rose markedly.
3. 618–868Dunhuang · GansuWoodblock printing reached maturity under the Tang, with printing centers forming in Chang'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and elsewhere. The colophon of the Diamond Sutra unearthed at Dunhuang in 868 CE is one of the earliest surviving woodblock prints in the world with a clear date, marking the completion of the technical system.