Woodblock printing or block printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later on paper.

Scholars believe that woodblock printing first appeared in China around 600, probably inspired by the much older use of bronze or stone seals to make impressions on clay and silk, and the practice of taking inked rubbings of inscribed texts from bronze and stone reliefs.

From the Song Dynasty onwards, woodblock printing became increasingly widespread in Chinese society. Used for official documents and in land sales, commercial activities and traditional customs, woodblock printing came to form an integral …

Nov 14, 2023 · Traditional Chinese woodblock printing is a time-honored technique that has been practiced for centuries. This ancient art form involves carving intricate designs onto wooden blocks, applying ink to the blocks, and then pressing them onto paper or …

Jun 26, 2023 · Ancient Chinese craftsmen thus came up with a novel way to mass produce printed works. Hence came the prototype of woodblock printing. Traditional woodblock printing can be divided into four major steps: writing, engraving, printing, and binding.

Sep 26, 2020 · Woodblock printing is the process of transferring patterns, images, and texts onto fabric or paper from a block of wood that has patterns of texts inscribed on it. Woodblock printing is believed to have started in China, dating 4,000 years back. It is, therefore, believed that woodblock printing then spread to other parts of the world from China.

Many centuries before the invention of the printing press in Europe, the Chinese developed a form of printing using carved wooden blocks. Two earlier Chinese inventions, paper and ink, paved the way for block printing; so too did the practice of using carved seals, which dates to early Mesopotamian civilizations.

Oct 28, 2024 · Explore the rich history of woodblock printing, tracing its journey from a sacred Buddhist tool in ancient China, through Japan’s vibrant ukiyo-e prints, to its lasting influence on modern art and culture.

This major international loan exhibition explores the art, craft, and cultural significance of Chinese woodblock prints made during their golden age, from the late 16th through the 19th century.

Most Chinese woodblocks are made from pear trees or jujube trees because they have dense textures and are of moderate hardness; the qualities help to produce carved lines that are durable and keep their crisp design for a long time. These two kinds of wood also absorb an appropriate amount of water which ensures the printing quality.