Kingfisher, Cicada, and Willow Tree, Qing Dynasty

Woodblock printing first appeared in China around 600, probably following by the much older use of bronze or stone seals to make imprints on clay and silk. At first, woodblock printing was mainly used for printing calendars, calligraphy, charms as well as books on agriculture and medicine. In 762, the first commercially printed books were sold in the markets of the Tang capital, Chang’an. By the end of Tang dynasty, the process for block printing on paper was perfected. The limitations of woodblock printing led to the invention of moveable-type printing during the Song dynasty. In China, because of the thousands of ideograms required to write in Chinese, moveable type was not as efficient as it would be four hundred years later in Western Europe so woodblock printing remained popular in China and Chinese woodblock prints golden age spanned from the late 16th through the 19th century.

The Qing dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 1644 to 1912. It was founded by the Manchu people, who came from Manchuria in northeastern China. Their history, language, culture, and identity were distinct from the Chinese population, whom they conquered in 1644 when China was weakened by internal rebellions. The Manchus forged alliances with certain Chinese and Mongol groups that aided their conquest of China. Manchu rule did not completely uproot the government of China or its social and cultural life; instead, Manchu rulers selectively continued and adapted aspects of Chinese life they admired. They developed a style of rule befitting the multiethnic empire they commanded, of which the Chinese were the largest population. The Manchu rulers modeled many of their government practices on those of the previous Chinese Ming dynasty (1368–1644). For example, they employed a civil service examination system much like in previous Chinese dynasties to recruit Chinese government officials. In addition, the emperors were bilingual in Chinese and Manchu. Simultaneously, the Manchu rulers maintained and promoted many Manchu customs at court and within the general populace. The Qing dynasty was known for its strong and centralized government, as well as its accomplishments in art and culture. Some of the most notable emperors of the Qing dynasty include Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong. The Qing dynasty also saw several significant events, such as the Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion. Ultimately, however, the dynasty was unable to adapt to the changes brought about by the industrialization of the West, and it was overthrown in 1912, marking the end of imperial China.