20. Late Ming Print Culture

Ming dynasty 1368-1644

Concept: modernism

Objects:

Pre-Ming Prints

Diamond Sutra 金剛經.  868 CE.  Discovered in the secret “library cave” in Dunhuang by Aurel Stein, 1907.  Earliest extant printed book.

Earliest evidence of the three elements needed to make a print:

            1.  wood block: Shang

            2.  ink:  Zhou

            3.  paper:  Han

Process of print-making

example of Ten Bamboo Studio (Shizhu zhai jianpu 十竹齊箋譜) letter-writing paper.

first copper plate (engraved) print dating to the Northern Song

Historical precedents for print making:

bronze casting in the Shang dynasty

tomb tiles created with stamps dating from the Han dynasty

stamped textile designs dating from the Han dynasty

seals, a version of which were first used in the Zhou dynasty

Fluorescence of printing in Ming dynasty:

Nowadays the moneygrubbers in publishing houses make up novels and other kinds of writing...; their books and illustrations are copied by farmers, plain laborers and merchants.  Every family possesses such writings and pictures, which ignorant women are particularly crazy about.  Publishers then compiled Women’s Historical Chronicles for this market, and even slandered ancient worthies in plays for mundane entertainments.  Officials neglect to prohibit such things; educated gentlemen view them as normal.  Some writers wish to criticize this social evil, but write plays to express their views and thus encourage the evil itself.  Insincere writers compose plays as a pastime; their works, such as the West Chamber...have exerted such widespread influence that no-one has been able to stop this trend.

Ming prints

Bridal Du Painting a Self-portrait.  From Peony Pavilion (Mudan ting).  Monochrome woodblock print; 8 1/4 x 5” (fig. 9-3)

Min Qiji (1580-after 1661). Yingying reading a letter from Student Zhang.  From Western Wing (Xixiang ji).  Polychrome woodblock print; 10 7/8 x 12 3/4” (fig. 9-4)

Wang Gai (1645-1710).  Landscape in the Tang Yin Manner.  From Mustard Seed Garden Painting Manual.  1679.  Polychrome woodblock print; 8 7/8 x 5 3/4” (fig. 9-5)

Cheng Dayue, ed. (1541-1616).  Christ and St Peter.  From Ink Garden of Master Cheng (Chengshi moyuan). 1594.  Monochrome woodblock print; 9 3/4 x 5 5/8” (fig. 9-17)

New Year’s pictures (nianhua) and popular prints.  Example:  Anonymous, The Lotus Bears Precious Seeds.  QING.  Polychrome woodblock print; 23 3/8 x 41 3/4” (fig. 10-24)