Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5: Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 1: Paper and Printing

Science and Civilisation in China #5.1

by Joseph Needham, Tsuen-Hsuin Tsien

Part one of the fifth volume of Joseph Needham's great enterprise is written by one of the project's collaborators. Professor Tsien Tsuen-Hsuin, working in regular consultation with Dr Needham, has written the most comprehensive account of every aspect of paper and printing in China to be published in the West. From a close study of the vast mass of source material, Professor Tsien brings order and illumination to an area of technology which has been of profound importance in the spread of civilisation. The main body of the book is a detailed study of the invention, technology and aesthetic development of printing in China. From the growth and ultimate refinements of early woodcut printing to the spread of printing from movable type and the development of book-binding, Professor Tsien carries the story forward to the beginning of the nineteenth century when 'more printed pages existed in Chinese than in all other languages put together'.

Genres: History, China, Science, Nonfiction, Asia

504 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 1985

About the author

Joseph Needham was a British biochemist, historian and sinologist known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1941, and a fellow of the British Academy in 1971. In 1992, Queen Elizabeth II conferred on him the Companionship of Honour, and the Royal Society noted he was the only living person to hold these three titles.

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in this series, and one of the shorter ones as well! I found this a little easier to follow than the last few, with the subject matter (paper and printing) being less technical (or at least more familiar to me). As an avid reader, I am of course interested in the history of reading. Looking forward to the next volume!