Xylography

It was used around the 8th century in Asia as a method for early printing. It was a method of printmaking that used woodcuts and woodblocks as a form of relief.

In Context

"The earliest examples of Chinese woodblock printing, or xylography, are from about the eighth century, during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Printing from woodblocks continued in China until the twentieth century, through the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Chinese woodblocks were typically made of pear, jujube, or catalpa wood. The craft of woodblock carving reached its peak during the Song dynasty (960-1279), a period that witnessed a general flowering of the book crafts, including also calligraphy and manuscript illumination. From China, printing technology spread throughout Asia, with particularly important innovations in Japan and Korea" (Robinson 76-77).

Woodblock Printing Steps

1. Transcribe the original text to block

2. Reliefs

3. Printing and drying

4. Binding the book