- Uses a carved block of wood with raised areas corresponding to the characters or images to be printed.
- Ink is applied to the raised areas, and the block is then pressed onto paper or fabric.
- The resulting print is a mirror image of the carved block.
- Developed during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD).
- Widely used for centuries to produce books, religious texts, and other printed materials.
Movable type printing:
- Uses individual pieces of metal or ceramic with raised characters or images.
- Each piece of type is arranged in a frame and then inked.
- The frame is then pressed onto paper or fabric to create a print.
- The resulting print is a direct reproduction of the arranged type.
- Invented by Bi Sheng during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127 AD).
- However, it was not widely used until the 13th century when it was rediscovered and popularized by Wang Zhen.