Print Culture and The Modern World

Question 1

The main reason for the Chinese Imperial State being the primary producer of printed material in the 19th century.

Answer 1

1. China possessed a huge bureaucratic system that recruited its personnel through civil service examinations.
2. Hence, textbooks for this examination were printed in vast numbers under the sponsorship of the Imperial State.
3. From the 16th century, the number of candidates went up and that increased the volume of print.

Question 2

Mention the reasons favoring the shift from hand printing to mechanical printing in China.

Answer 2

1. In the 17th century, urban culture bloomed in China, and the use of print diversified.
2. Print was no longer used just by scholarly people. Merchants used to print to organize trade information in everyday life.
3. Reading increasingly became a leisure activity.
4. Rich women began to read, and many published their own poetry and plays.
5. Wives of scholarly people published their works and courtesans wrote about their lives.
6. in the late 19th century, Western powers established their outposts in China. Shanghai became the hub of the new print culture, catering to Western-style schools.

Question 3

Which is the oldest Japanese book?

Answer 3

• Diamond Sutra
• Printed in AD 868
• Six sheets
• Woodcut illustrations

Question 3

Which is the oldest Japanese book?

Answer 3

• Diamond Sutra
• Printed in AD 868
• Six sheets
• Woodcut illustrations

Question 4

How did print reach various European countries?

Answer 4

Marco Polo returned to Italy in 1295. He brought back with him the Chinese technology of woodblock printing,
Italians began woodblock printing, and soon it spread to other parts of Europe.

Question 5

Who brought the technology of woodblock printing to Europe? Why was it unpopular in aristocratic circles? Who purchased woodblock printed books?

Answer 5

1. Marco Polo
2. It was unpopular in aristocratic circles because they felt that printed books were cheap vulgarities.
3. Luxury editions were still handwritten on the very expensive vellum.
4. Merchants and university students purchased cheap printed copies.

Question 6

Highlight 3 innovations that improved printing technology from the 19th century onwards.

Answer 6

1. by the late 18th century, the press came to be made out of metal
2. Mid 19th century- Richard M Hoe - perfected the power driven cylindrical press - could print 8000 sheets per hour - used to print newspapers
3. late 19th century - an offset press was developed - could print six colors at a time
4. from the 20th century - electrically operated press accelerated printing operations

Question 7

developments in printing technology

Answer 7

1. methods of feeding paper changed
2. quality of plates became better
3. automatic paper reels
   4.photoelectric controls of colour register introduced

Question 8

Printers and Publishers used new strategies to sell their products. Explain

Answer 8

1. Serialised important novels - nineteenth century periodicals
2. Cheap series called Shilling Series in England
3. Dust cover/book jacket - 19th century innovation
4. During great depression of 1930s, they brought out cheap paperback editions

Question 9

Printers and Publishers used new strategies to sell their products. Explain

Answer 9

1. Serialised important novels - nineteenth century periodicals
2. Cheap series called Shilling Series in England
3. Dust cover/book jacket - 19th century innovation
4. During great depression of 1930s, they brought out cheap paperback editions