重思故技 Re-discovering Joseph Needham's Science and Civilisation in China 2020 重思故技

Techniques and Procedures

(I) Procedures of Chinese Woodblock Printing

1(i). Manuscript would transcribe on the thin sheets of paper by professional calligrapher (Paper will wax lightly & smooth with stone burnisher, make the surface easier to write)

1(ii). Transcript would be placed with written side down & thin layer of rice paste spread over

2. Engraving (Process called Fa Tao 發刀)

2(i). Leave all black lines in the mirror image

2(ii). Cut the narrowly bordering of each character

3(i). Blank space between inner & outer line would be cut away (A step Called Thiao Tao 打空)

3(ii). Cut leaving the characters with a relief about ⅛ inch

3(iii). The gauge with a semi-circular edge cut away the blank surfaces (Process called Takhung)

4. La Hsien (拉綫)

In order to make all lines clear & sharp, knife to trim the black lines of columns and edges of the block with a small straight-edge

Needham, J. & Tsuen-hsuin, T. (1985). [Preparation of block for printing]. Science and Civilisation in China Volume V Chemistry and Chemical Technology Part I: Paper and Printing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 199

(II) Tools for Printing

Needham, J. & Tsuen-hsuin, T. (1985). [Tools for woodblock carving]. Science and Civilisation in China Volume V Chemistry and Chemical Technology Part I: Paper and Printing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 199

1. Cutting Knives (刻刀): Steel graver with a sharp blade (the most important tool for cutting the main lines along the edges of inked areas)

2. Double-edged Chisels (兩頭忙): Use for work fine-tune & meticulous parts

3. Gouge with Semi-circular edge (半圓刃的鑿子): Scoop out the space from the surface or Leave a groove in the columns

4. Flat Edge Chisel (平鑿): Use to cut away surfaces of the block not covered with ink

5. Scraper (刮刀): Modify the layout & Scrap away excess lines and corroded places

6. Wood Maller (木搥): Use to knock the Flat Edge Chisel to shovel emptily

(III) Brushes and Accessories for Printing and Rubbing

Needham, J. & Tsuen-hsuin, T. (1985). [Brushes and accessories for printing and rubbing]. Science and Civilisation in China Volume V Chemistry and Chemical Technology Part I: Paper and Printing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 200

1. Flat brush (平刷) for transferring text to block or stone

2. Round brush (圓刷) for inking

3. Long brush (長刷) for taking impression

4. Stuffed pad (軟墊) for inked rubbing

(IV) Types of Movable Type Printing

Movable type printing was beginning to use and developing after the middle of the 11th century. It has replaced the complicated process of woodblock printing. By considering the economy and efficiency, movable type printing could assemble individual characters to compose a piece of text. Movable type printing contains 3 major methods: (1) Earthenware types, (2) Wooden types and (3) Bronze and other metal types.

Figure: Earthenware typesSource: Academy of Chinese Studies

1.Earthenware types (泥活字)

During 1041-48, a man named Pi Sheng (畢昇) created Earthenware Types Printing. His method and steps were as follows:

Procedures of Earthenware Types:

i. Use sticky clay and cut it in characters as thin as the edge of coin

ii. Each character formed as a single type and bake it in the fire to make it hard

iii. Prepared an iron plate and covered the plate with a mixture of pine resin, paper ashes and wax. When printed, set the character on the iron plate tightly to make one full solid block

iv. Place the iron plate near the fire to warm and melt the paste of the earthenware type

v. After melting the paste, take the smooth board and press the iron plate over the surface, making the block of type became whetstone

Figure: Movable-type printing process
Source: Rui An Dong Yuan Mu Huozi Yinshua Shu

Needham, J. & Tsuen-hsuin, T. (1985). [Drawing of Wang Chen's wooden movable-type printing process]. Science and Civilisation in China Volume V Chemistry and Chemical Technology Part I: Paper and Printing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 207

Figure: Revolving table according to the five tones and rhymes
Source: National Science & Technology Museum

2. Wooden Types (木活字)

Two Types of Wooden Types: Wang Chen and Chin Chien’s Method:

Wang Chen’s Method (1290-1333):

Procedures of Earthenware Types:

i. Engraving the characters on the wooden block, and cut out every single character to a small-fine toothed saw for exact uniformity in size and height.

ii. Arrange types in a revolving table according to the five tones and rhymes (efficiency to find words with a fixed pattern on the table), with large characters used for labels.

iii. Arrange types in wooden cases, hold in rows with bamboo strips, and kept in place with wooden plugs, making the perfectly firm and will not move.

iv. Smear the ink on the wooden cases and printing begins.

Differences Between the procedures on Wang Chen and Chin Chien’s Method

1. Wang Chen’s Method

Creating types: Carved the characters on wooden blocks and sawed them apart

Setting types’ Method: Types came to the workers by using the Revolving tables

2. Chin Chien’s Method

Creating types: Prepared type bodies before the characters were cut individually to make them

Setting types’ Method: Workers went to find the types

Disadvantages of Movable Type in Chinese printing

Although Movable Type Printing was invented by China in the mid 11th century, it is still not common in China for the usage of printing. It is because of the nature of written Chinese, there are at least 200,000 Chinese types may be used in one printing, so the great numbers in the Chinese language and types reduce the practicability of movable-type printing in China. Also, the process of movable type printing is cumbersome, as the techniques of inking and rubbing are only a minor part of the process of using this printing, while the major part is assembling the type and distributing it for future services after use.

(V) Compare Chinese Woodblock Printing & Movable Type Printing

Chinese Woodblock Printing

Sustainability: Preserve indefinitely & use over and over again with occasional retouching or repairing

Quantity: Small quantities over relatively long periods

Investment: Lower financial burdens 1. Low cost of wood and woodblock printing 2. Fewer workers employed and cheaper wage

Appearance: Great variety of typographical effect 1. More personality and characteristic

Movable Type Printing

Sustainability: Change and move types by corresponding to the printed articles

Quantity: Large quantities at one printing

Investment: Greater financial burdens in initial investment 1. Costs for making the vast number of characters needed 2. More workers employed

Appearance: Front of uniform type 1. Rigid

The usage of Chinese Woodblock printing had been commonly used in China rather than movable type printing, by having high practicality and lower financial burden in China at that time. Therefore, the situation was very unfavourable for the development of movable-type printing in China by comparing to woodblock printing,

← History and Development

Aesthetic Aspects of Chinese printing →

Reference:
Pan, J. X. (2019). Printing. Academy of Chinese Studies. Retrieved from https://chiculture.org.hk/en/node/846
Pan, J. X. (2019). [Earthenware types]. Printing. Academy of Chinese Studies. Retrieved from https://chiculture.org.hk/en/node/846
National Science & Technology Museum. (n.d). [Revolving table according to the five tones and rhymes]. Huo Zi Yin Shua Shu Fa Ming. Retrieved from https://www3.nstm.gov.tw/chinascience/F/f-index3.htm
Needham, J. & Tsuen-hsuin, T. (1985). Science and Civilisation in China Volume V Chemistry and Chemical Technology Part I: Paper and Printing (pp. 194-252). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rui An Dong Yuan Mu Huozi Yinshua Shu. (2015). [Movable-type printing process]. Zhong Guo Mu Hu Zi Yin Shua Shu De "Huo Hua Shi" 2014.12.10. Retrieved from http://www.ralib.cn/ramhz/shownew.asp?ID=325&ClassID=15

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