A Chronological History of Chinese Publishing (Revised Edition) (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Li Ruiliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features:
(1) The origin and evolution of Chinese characters.
(2) The historical background and major historical events that directly influenced book production and distribution.
(3) The compilation and organization of important classics throughout the dynasties, including the compilation and annotation of Confucian classics, the compilation of Taoist works, the translation and compilation of Buddhist and Quranic texts, cross-language translation (Chinese and foreign), translation between minority ethnic literature and Chinese books, the compilation of important anthologies, selected works, classified compendia, series, and collected fragments, as well as the carving of stone inscriptions.
(4) The physical carriers, materials, and production methods of books, including handwritten manuscripts, hand-copied texts, engraved printing, movable-type printing, stone printing, lead printing, and color printing.
(5) Important publishing institutions throughout the dynasties, including government-related agencies, major bookshops, publishing houses, private engravers and their published works, as well as the deeds of important compilers, annotators, textual critics, and publishers.
(6) Book distribution, including the cultural policies and management measures of governments throughout the dynasties regarding books, distribution methods and channels, book sales and distribution, price evolution of books, the origin of different editions, the dispersion and collection of classics, public and private book collections, and cross-cultural book exchanges.