Around 220 AD the Chinese began printing pictures on silk and other fabrics. Then around 650 AD they began printing on paper using wooden blocks.

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Printing is invented in China

Woodblock printing works by carving words or pictures into a large block of wood. Once carved, ink is then spread across the block and then sheets of paper are pressed against it.

The Process

The most difficult part of the process is to remember that images or text have to be carved in reverse so when paper is pressed on it, it creates an image the right way.

Flip it and Reverse it

Woodblock printing was use mostly to print religious books. The most famous book printed during the Tang dynasty was the Diamon Sutra. This huge book included pictures and text and helped to spread Buddism throughout China.

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Spreading of ideas