A study of the origin and development of papermaking and printing in Chinese culture to the end of the 19th century. The main sections are: discussion of the factors that contributed to the invention of paper and printing; scope and content of the source material; processes of manufacture and the uses; the invention technology and aesthetic development of printing in china; spread of the knowledge of paper and printing to Japan, Korea, and westwards to central Asia and Europe; analysis of the differences in cultural traditions as they affected intellectual life and society in china and the west. Extensive bibliographies, table of dynasties, romanisation conversion table.