A Buddhist book called The Diamond Sutra, printed around 868 C.E., is the oldest known printed book. It was printed using page-sized panels of wood blocks. These blocks were carved by hand with Chinese characters shown in reverse
The Diamond Sutra is indeed considered to be the oldest known printed book, dating back to around 868 C.E. It was printed using a technique called woodblock printing, which was widely used in East Asia before the invention of movable type.
To understand how the Diamond Sutra was printed, we need to delve into the process of woodblock printing. First, a craftsman would take a block of wood, typically made from durable materials like pear or jujube wood. The block would be cut into the desired size of the page and smoothed using sandpaper or a knife.
Next, the text of the Diamond Sutra would be copied onto a sheet of thin paper in reverse, as it needed to be mirrored when printed. The paper was then dampened and carefully applied to the surface of the woodblock, allowing the ink to transfer from the paper onto the wood.
After that, the craftsman would use sharp tools, such as knives or chisels, to carefully carve out the characters along the lines formed by the transferred ink. This process required precision and skill to ensure that the characters were accurately carved.
Once the entire block was meticulously carved, ink would be applied to the raised surfaces of the woodblock. Then, a sheet of paper would be placed on top of the block, and pressure applied, either by hand or using a flat tool, to transfer the inked characters onto the paper. This repeated process allowed for the printing of multiple copies of the Diamond Sutra.
Printing large-scale works like the Diamond Sutra required a significant number of wood blocks, with each block containing a single page of the book. The blocks were organized in the correct order, and the printer would apply ink and press paper onto each block in sequence to create a full book.
Woodblock printing played a crucial role in the spread of knowledge and culture in East Asia. The Diamond Sutra is a remarkable example of the early use of this technique, showcasing the ingenuity and craftsmanship of ancient printers.