Overview of Chinese Woodblock Printing

Author: Feng Pengsheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-09-01
Features: This book is an academic work that (based on historical records) and discusses the development of woodblock printing techniques, focusing on the history of woodblock prints. Ancient multi-color woodblock printing, known as "" in history and "" today, is the reason for the book's title, "An Overview of Chinese Woodblock Printing." The book is inscribed by Mr. Li Yimeng, with a preface by Mr. Song Zhenjing, and prefaces by Mr. Yang Renkai and Mr. Wang Zixiao. The book is divided into three parts:
1. The Historical Evolution Part: This section primarily discusses issues in the study of the history of woodblock printing from the Sui and Tang dynasties to the modern era over 1,300 years. It proposes insights such as the origin of woodblock printing in the Sui Dynasty, the practice of embossed printing in the Tang Dynasty, and the emergence of "" in the Song Dynasty. Additionally, it uses firsthand materials from the Liao Dynasty treasures found in the Yixian Wooden Pagoda in Shanxi, which the author personally participated in (organizing), to discuss the Liao Dynasty's woodblock printing techniques. This fills the gaps in the study of Liao Dynasty woodblock prints.
2. The Technical Part: The author provides a comprehensive technical summary of the woodblock printing process for the first time.
3. The Illustrated Catalog Part: Over 300 representative woodblock prints are selected from tens of thousands of ancient woodblock prints and more than 5,000 modern woodblock prints, accompanied by an index and textual descriptions. This book is considered a comprehensive masterpiece in the study of woodblock printing to date.