by Tilovalo

Woodblock printing developed into an independent form of fine art in the 6th century in Eastern Asia and during the Renaissance period in Europe. Originating in China, the woodblock printing technique spread throughout India, Tibet, Mongolia and Japan, following the dissemination of Buddhism. The Tibetan name of a woodblock board is ‘par’ which was adopted by the Mongolian language to be pronounced as ‘bar’. Woodblocks of various sizes, ranging from very small to a metre in diameter, would be carved to print various images from simple shapes to elaborated images of deities with multiple heads and arms.

The image to be printed was carved as a relief matrix on a wooden board before being pressed on a piece of paper, silk or a fabric using a red mineral-based paint and black ink. The requirements for illustrations in books and sutras increased in the beginning of the 20th Century, when the development of woodblock printing reached its zenith. During this period there were over 760 woodblock studios. The major woodblock printing places of Khalha and Buriatia, which printed Mongolian books and sutras, were in the Urga, Zaya Huree, Uizen Gong Monastery, Mayahan Huree (Kobdo), Choir Monastery (Dundgobi), Murun Monastery (Kubsugul), Unu Monastery (Dornogobi) and Khalha Temple (Dornod).