# Pre-computers Chinese typography

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-computers-chinese-typography/460252>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-computers-chinese-typography/460252 "2008-08-16T20:27:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-computers-chinese-typography/460252/1 "2008-08-16T20:27:36Z")

</div>

Prior to the advent of computerized typography, how did the Chinese set type? Did they have an equivalent to the linotype machine? And going back even further, what was their first movable type like?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-computers-chinese-typography/460252/2 "2008-08-16T20:35:12Z")

</div>

Just in case someone more knowledgeable doesn’t stop by:

> **[History of printing in East Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_typography_in_East_Asia)**
>
> Printing in East Asia originated from the Han dynasty (220 BCE – 206 CE) in China, evolving from ink rubbings made on paper or cloth from texts on stone tables used during the Han. Printing is considered one of the Four Great Inventions of China that spread throughout the world. A specific type of printing called mechanical woodblock printing on paper started in China during the Tang dynasty before the 8th century CE. The use of woodblock printing spread throughout East Asia, and the From the 17...