16 Questions
In which countries was the earliest kind of print technology developed?
China, Japan, and Korea
What was the material used for printing in China from AD 594?
Paper
Why were traditional Chinese books folded and stitched at the side?
Because both sides of the paper could not be printed
Who was the major producer of printed material in China for a very long time?
The imperial state
What was the purpose of printing textbooks in vast numbers under the sponsorship of the imperial state?
For civil service examinations
What was the result of the increase in examination candidates in the sixteenth century?
An increase in the volume of print
What was the new reading culture accompanied by in the late nineteenth century?
A new technology
What was the hub of the new print culture in the late nineteenth century?
Shanghai
What was the primary method of printing used in China from AD 594?
Rubbing paper against inked surface of woodblocks
The imperial state in China was the only producer of printed material.
False
What type of books were printed in vast numbers under the sponsorship of the imperial state?
Textbooks for civil service examinations
By the seventeenth century, _______________ culture bloomed in China.
urban
Match the following types of readers with the type of material they preferred:
Scholar-officials = Textbooks Merchants = Trade information New readers = Fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, etc. Wives of scholar-officials = Poetry and plays
Rich women were not allowed to read in China.
False
The new technology of printing that was imported in the late nineteenth century was from the _______________.
West
What was the result of the new reading culture in China?
The emergence of a new type of literature
Study Notes
Print Technology in China, Japan, and Korea
- The earliest print technology developed in China, Japan, and Korea was a system of hand printing.
- In China, books were printed from AD 594 onwards by rubbing paper against the inked surface of woodblocks.
- Due to the thin and porous nature of paper, only one side could be printed, leading to the development of the traditional Chinese 'accordion book' that was folded and stitched at the side.
- Skilled craftsmen could accurately duplicate the beauty of calligraphy through this process.
Imperial State and Printing
- The imperial state in China was the major producer of printed material for a long time.
- The state sponsored the printing of vast numbers of textbooks for civil service examinations, which recruited personnel for the huge bureaucratic system.
- The number of examination candidates increased from the sixteenth century, leading to an increase in the volume of print.
Diversification of Print Use
- By the seventeenth century, urban culture blossomed in China, and the uses of print diversified beyond scholar-officials.
- Merchants used print to collect trade information, and reading became a leisure activity.
- The new readership preferred fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, anthologies of literary masterpieces, and romantic plays.
Women and Print Culture
- Rich women began to read, and many women started publishing their poetry and plays.
- Wives of scholar-officials published their works, and courtesans wrote about their lives.
Western Influence on Print Culture
- Western printing techniques and mechanical presses were imported in the late nineteenth century as Western powers established their outposts in China.
- Shanghai became the hub of the new print culture, catering to Western-style schools.
- There was a gradual shift from hand printing to mechanical printing.
Print Technology in China, Japan, and Korea
- The earliest print technology developed in China, Japan, and Korea was a system of hand printing.
- In China, books were printed from AD 594 onwards by rubbing paper against the inked surface of woodblocks.
- Due to the thin and porous nature of paper, only one side could be printed, leading to the development of the traditional Chinese 'accordion book' that was folded and stitched at the side.
- Skilled craftsmen could accurately duplicate the beauty of calligraphy through this process.
Imperial State and Printing
- The imperial state in China was the major producer of printed material for a long time.
- The state sponsored the printing of vast numbers of textbooks for civil service examinations, which recruited personnel for the huge bureaucratic system.
- The number of examination candidates increased from the sixteenth century, leading to an increase in the volume of print.
Diversification of Print Use
- By the seventeenth century, urban culture blossomed in China, and the uses of print diversified beyond scholar-officials.
- Merchants used print to collect trade information, and reading became a leisure activity.
- The new readership preferred fictional narratives, poetry, autobiographies, anthologies of literary masterpieces, and romantic plays.
Women and Print Culture
- Rich women began to read, and many women started publishing their poetry and plays.
- Wives of scholar-officials published their works, and courtesans wrote about their lives.
Western Influence on Print Culture
- Western printing techniques and mechanical presses were imported in the late nineteenth century as Western powers established their outposts in China.
- Shanghai became the hub of the new print culture, catering to Western-style schools.
- There was a gradual shift from hand printing to mechanical printing.
Learn about the early print technology developed in China, Japan, and Korea, including hand printing, woodblocks, and the traditional Chinese 'accordion book'.
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