What do you know about block printing?

The so-called block printing refers to the process of engraving words and images on a wooden board in reverse, then brushing ink on the printing plate, spreading paper and applying pressure to transfer the pictures and texts on the printing plate to paper. In ancient times, it was also called "engraving", "catalpa line" and "engraving printing". The invention of block printing greatly reduced the production cost of books, accelerated the spread of knowledge and promoted the development of social civilization, which is the crystallization of human civilization and wisdom. So, when was block printing invented? There are different opinions in academic circles, and it is still inconclusive. To sum up, there are roughly the following statements (1). Some scholars say that block printing appeared as early as the Han Dynasty. According to the Book of the Later Han Dynasty? According to "Biography of Zhang Jian", in the eighth year of Yan Xi in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 165), James Zhang, a native of Gaoping County, Yang Shan, offended the eunuch Houlan and fled everywhere, so the court issued an arrest warrant. Wang Youxue, a scholar in the Yuan Dynasty, interpreted "publishing chapters" as "publishing articles, publishing lists today", that is, printing arrest warrants. Many scholars in Qing Dynasty agreed with this view. However, many contemporary scholars believe that this statement is not reliable. They think that "printing" mentioned in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty refers to printing on mud, silk or paper, and seal cutting technology does not mean block printing. Moreover, the printing industry in the Eastern Han Dynasty did not meet the requirements. Besides, if block printing appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty, why did it disappear quietly in the next four or five hundred years?

According to the Sui Dynasty, some scholars believe that block printing began in the Sui Dynasty. According to Fei Changfang's "Three Treasures of Past Dynasties" in Sui Dynasty, on December 8, the thirteenth year of Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty (AD 593), he ordered to worship Buddha, and there was a saying in the imperial edict that "the image should be left behind and engraved". Therefore, Shen Lu, a scholar in the Ming Dynasty, first proposed that the Sui Dynasty was "the beginning of printing books". Hu Yinglin, a scholar in the Ming Dynasty, pointed out in the book "Shao's Mountain House Painting Collection" that "engraving began in Sui Dynasty, went to Tang Dynasty and expanded to the Five Dynasties, which was better than that of Song Dynasty." Scholar Sun pointed out in Textual Research on the Origin of Woodblock Printing in China, "According to Fei Changfang's Three Treasures of Past Dynasties, there were woodblocks in the Sui Dynasty, and China's woodblock printing support began in the Sui Dynasty." Luo Zhenyu's Secret Records of Mingsha Stone Chambers records that the Great Sui Begging for Dalagni was engraved in the early Song Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty had all the conditions for printing, and there were many printed Buddhist scriptures in the relics of the early Tang Dynasty, which were probably printed in the Sui Dynasty. In addition, Sui Shu, History of the North and other documents also provide relevant evidence. However, some scholars have refuted this, arguing that "the Great Sui Dynasty begged Dalagni" is actually "the Great Sui Dynasty begged Dalagni", which is a Buddhist term with the meaning of "great freedom" and has nothing to do with the Sui Dynasty. (3) The Theory of Tang Dynasty Most scholars agree with the Theory of Tang Dynasty. According to Hong's records in the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizong's empress Shi once wrote "Women's Rules". After the death of her eldest grandson, Emperor Taizong "ordered her to do it". In Kobe, Japan, there are also Dalagni classics carved and printed by the Japanese royal family in the first year of Yanhe River in Tang Ruizong (AD 7 12). According to textual research, it was printed by block printing from China, so it can be inferred that printing began in the Tang Dynasty.