Ming Printing, Publishing and the Spread of Woodblock Literature (15th–17th centuries)

1. Hongwu orders compilation of Hongwu Zhengyun

   Jan 1, 1375Labels: Hongwu Emperor, Hongwu Zhengyun

   • SERICA
   • Wikipedia

2. Yongle Emperor commissions the Yongle Encyclopedia

   Jan 1, 1403Labels: Yongle Emperor, Yongle Dadian

   • Wikipedia

3. Yongle Encyclopedia compilation completed

   Jan 1, 1408Labels: Yongle Dadian, manuscript-repository

   • Wikipedia
   • Wikipedia

4. Yongle patronizes copper-printed Tibetan canon

   Jan 1, 1410Labels: Yongle Emperor, Tibetan Canon

   • Rubin Museum

5. Yongle Encyclopedia moved to Beijing court libraries

   Jan 1, 1421Labels: Yongle Dadian, Forbidden City

   • Wikipedia

6. Shidetang prints Six Masters philosophical compilation

   Jan 1, 1533Labels: Shidetang, Gu Chun

   • Wikipedia

7. Jiajing fire prompts copying of Yongle Encyclopedia

   Jan 1, 1557Labels: Jiajing Emperor, Yongle Dadian

   • Wikipedia

8. Jiajing orders a full manuscript copy

   Jan 1, 1562Labels: Jiajing Emperor, manuscript-copy

   • Wikipedia
   • China org cn

9. Duplicate of Yongle Encyclopedia reported completed

   Jan 1, 1567Labels: Yongle Dadian, Jiajing duplicate

   • Wikipedia
   • China org cn

10. Earliest extant complete Water Margin edition published

    Jan 1, 1589Labels: Water Margin, woodblock-print

    • Wikipedia

11. Yu Xiangdou assumes leadership in Jianyang publishing

    Jan 1, 1591Labels: Yu Xiangdou, Jianyang

    • Wikipedia
    • Brill

12. Earliest surviving Journey to the West edition printed

    Jan 1, 1592Labels: Journey to, Shidetang

    • Wikipedia
    • Wikimedia

13. Book of Swindles published in Fujian

    Jan 1, 1617Labels: Book of, Fujian

    • Wikipedia

14. Ten Bamboo Studio Manual first edition appears

    Jan 1, 1633Labels: Ten Bamboo, Hu Zhengyan

    • Met Museum
    • Wikipedia