Wood-block printing in Yangtze River drainage area with special focus on Buddhist sutras and images in South Song Yynasty (1127-1279)
Item abstract only
Author
Wang, Zhong Yao See all items with this value
Date
2007
Volume
8
Pages
299-305
ISSN
1530-4108 See all items with this value
Abstract
There was a close relationship between Buddhism and the invention of printing. The number of Buddhists increased during Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907) to Song dynasty (960-1279) and so also the demand for Buddhist canons and images. Buddhists had to find ways to produce the texts and images in great numbers, Thus Buddhists were the first to use printing on a large scale.
Block printing was invented towards the end of Sui and beginning of Tang Dynasties. One of the earliest works is the Diamond Sutra (《金刚经, engraved in the 9th year of Xiantong era (咸通,868) in Tang dynasty, another is the Unsoiled and Purified and Brightened Dharani Sutra (《无垢净光大陀罗尼经》) , made in the period of emperor Wu Zetian (684-705). It was discovered in Korea in 1966. The first emperor of Song dynasty (960-976) gave orders to engrave the Dazang Jing (《大藏经》) which is the first ever Buddhist canon to be printed in full in world history.
We find from many of the engraved books and images still available that block printing advanced in South-song dynasty (1127-1279). In Yangtze river drainage area at that time, the central government, local governments, imperial schools, temples, private houses and book stores embarked on engraving numerous woodblocks. A graceful style of the font evolved in South-song dynasty. The quality of printing is so high that works in the coming two dynasties, both Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty, could not equal them. Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces with the center of Lin’an (now Hangzhou), the Yangtze river drainage area, Fujian Province and Chendu of Sichuan Province were areas where Buddhism flourished and the engraving of books were encouraged by the government. These formed the publishing center with the Yangtze river drainage area as the biggest region to produce exquisite prints on a large scale.
With current developments in typography and especially the electronic technology, block printing seems antiquated: but its contribution to the scientific and cultural progress cannot be underestimated as printing remains main means of human cultural and scientific communication. It developed with block printing as Buddhism blossomed in Lin’an in South Song dynasty. It is a milestone in Buddhism’s promotion of civilization through technological and cultural initiatives in the world.
Block printing was invented towards the end of Sui and beginning of Tang Dynasties. One of the earliest works is the Diamond Sutra (《金刚经, engraved in the 9th year of Xiantong era (咸通,868) in Tang dynasty, another is the Unsoiled and Purified and Brightened Dharani Sutra (《无垢净光大陀罗尼经》) , made in the period of emperor Wu Zetian (684-705). It was discovered in Korea in 1966. The first emperor of Song dynasty (960-976) gave orders to engrave the Dazang Jing (《大藏经》) which is the first ever Buddhist canon to be printed in full in world history.
We find from many of the engraved books and images still available that block printing advanced in South-song dynasty (1127-1279). In Yangtze river drainage area at that time, the central government, local governments, imperial schools, temples, private houses and book stores embarked on engraving numerous woodblocks. A graceful style of the font evolved in South-song dynasty. The quality of printing is so high that works in the coming two dynasties, both Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty, could not equal them. Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces with the center of Lin’an (now Hangzhou), the Yangtze river drainage area, Fujian Province and Chendu of Sichuan Province were areas where Buddhism flourished and the engraving of books were encouraged by the government. These formed the publishing center with the Yangtze river drainage area as the biggest region to produce exquisite prints on a large scale.
With current developments in typography and especially the electronic technology, block printing seems antiquated: but its contribution to the scientific and cultural progress cannot be underestimated as printing remains main means of human cultural and scientific communication. It developed with block printing as Buddhism blossomed in Lin’an in South Song dynasty. It is a milestone in Buddhism’s promotion of civilization through technological and cultural initiatives in the world.