Origins of Print Technology in East Asia 🌏📚

• Early Beginnings in China, Japan, and Korea 🏯🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷
  • Print technology originated in China, where the first methods of hand printing were developed.
  • This early innovation spread to Japan and Korea, influencing their own print cultures.
  • Hand printing using inked woodblocks became a defining feature of early print technology in East Asia.
• Printing Process: Rubbing Paper Against Inked Woodblocks 🖋️📜
  • Around AD 594, books in China were printed by rubbing paper against inked woodblocks.
  • The inked woodblock, carved with characters or images, transferred its design onto paper, enabling mass production of written texts.
  • This method was effective but had limitations, such as printing on only one side of the paper.
• Chinese Accordion Book: A Unique Structure 📚🔖
  • Due to the limitations of the printing method, the Chinese accordion book was developed.
  • The accordion book consisted of folded and stitched sheets, creating a continuous strip of paper that unfolded like an accordion.
  • This innovative structure allowed for easier handling and distribution of printed materials.
• Mastery of Calligraphy ✒️🖋️
  • Early printed books often featured beautiful calligraphy that showcased remarkable artistry and skill.
  • Skilled craftsmen replicated the grace and beauty of handwritten texts with remarkable accuracy.
  • Calligraphy was not just a writing method but a revered art form that made printed materials more prestigious and culturally significant.

Imperial State and Print Production in China 🏛️📜

• Role of the Imperial State in Print Production 👑📚
  • The imperial state in China played a key role as the primary producer of printed materials.
  • The state-controlled the production of books, texts, and official documents, ensuring consistency and quality across the empire.
• Printing of Civil Service Examination Textbooks 📖✍️
  • Textbooks for the highly important civil service examinations were printed in large quantities by the state.
  • These exams were essential for recruiting government officials, and textbooks were crucial in preparing candidates.
  • The state aimed to standardize education and maintain control over knowledge distribution through printed texts.
• Growth in Examination Candidates and Print Volume 📈💼
  • As the number of candidates for the civil service increased during the 16th century, so did the demand for printed materials.
  • More candidates meant a higher volume of textbooks, study materials, and official records needed to be printed.
  • This increase in print production reflected China’s growing bureaucratic structure and the increasing importance of education.

The Diversification of Print Uses in the 17th Century 🖋️📖

• Urban Culture and the Growth of Print 🏙️📚
  • With the blooming of urban culture in 17th-century China, print became accessible to more than just scholars.
  • The growing city life led to a shift in the way print was used, making it part of everyday life for a wider audience.
• Merchants and the Use of Print for Trade 💼📑
  • Merchants began using print to collect trade information, including market prices, product availability, and supply-demand details.
  • Print became a tool for business as merchants used it to expand their networks, maintain records, and communicate more efficiently.
• Rise of Recreational Reading and New Genres 📖🎭
  • As reading became more of a leisure activity, people started enjoying fictional stories, poetry, autobiographies, and literary anthologies.
  • This shift brought a diverse range of materials into print, catering to non-scholarly audiences.
  • Women in particular, including the wives of scholar-officials, began publishing their works, which included poetry and plays.
  • Courtesans also shared their personal stories, adding a new dimension to the kinds of reading material available.

The Rise of Women Writers and Readers in China 📚👩‍🦰

• Women Embrace Reading and Writing 📖✍️
  • Wealthy women in China began to take up reading and writing in the 17th century.
  • Poetry and plays became popular among elite women as they started expressing themselves through these literary forms.
  • This new engagement with literature was part of a broader cultural shift, where women became more visible in the literary world.
• Wives of Scholar-Officials and Their Works 📝👩‍🦳
  • The wives of scholar-officials also contributed to this new wave by publishing their own poetry and literary works.
  • These women shared their personal experiences, offering a new perspective and voice in a previously male-dominated literary world.
• Courtesans Writing About Their Lives 💃✍️
  • Courtesans, too, began to write and publish, often sharing stories about their lives and experiences.
  • These works provided insight into the lives of women outside traditional family structures, adding to the diversity of literary voices.
• Expanding Readership Beyond Scholars 📚👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
  • The rise of women writers and readers marked an important shift in the reading culture of China.
  • As more women engaged with literature, the readership expanded to include diverse groups, moving beyond just the scholarly elite.

Western Printing Techniques and the Shift to Mechanical Printing 🖨️🌍

• Introduction of Western Printing Techniques 🖨️➡️🌍
  • Western printing techniques were introduced to China in the late 19th century as Western powers established outposts in the country.
  • These new techniques marked a significant shift in China’s printing culture, paving the way for mechanical presses and mass production.
• Shanghai as the Hub of the New Print Culture 🏙️📚
  • Shanghai became the central hub for this emerging print culture, serving as the main center where Western-style printing flourished.
  • The city catered to the growing demand for Western-style schools and publications, which were quickly gaining popularity among the urban population.
• Transition from Hand Printing to Mechanical Printing 🔄🖨️
  • There was a gradual shift from the traditional hand printing methods to mechanical printing.
  • This change revolutionized the printing process, allowing for much faster production and the ability to produce larger volumes of printed materials.