在欧洲拥有印刷机之前，世界上大约四分之三的书籍都是中文的。 现存最古老、年代确切的印刷书籍是《金刚经》，它于公元868年5月11日在中国使用木版印刷术印制。 这部佛教经典是一卷长约5米（16英尺）的卷轴，开头有一幅精美的插图。卷末的跋文记载：“王玖奉其父母之命，恭敬印制，免费分发”。 早在约翰内斯·古腾堡于公元1440-1450年左右在欧洲发明活字印刷机之前几个世纪，东亚就已经存在包括木版印刷和早期活字印刷（使用陶瓷、木材，后来是金属）在内的印刷技术。《金刚经》是唐代中国印刷文化蓬勃发展的典型例证。Before Europe had a printing press, about three quarters of the world’s books were in Chinese.
the oldest securely dated printed book we have, the Diamond Sutra from 868, ends with a note that it was made for universal free distribution.
it was printed in China and later found sealed away among the Dunhuang cave manuscripts, now kept at the British Library.
the oldest securely dated printed book we have, the Diamond Sutra from 868, ends with a note that it was made for universal free distribution.
it was printed in China and later found sealed away among the Dunhuang cave manuscripts, now kept at the British Library.
