Printmaking has gone through two stages of development, from copying to creation. Early printed matter was made for printing and publishing. Painters, sculptors and printers work together, and sculptors only make plates according to the painter's drawings. This is called copying prints. Later, printmaking gained an independent position in art. Painters, sculptors and printers were all appointed by printmakers, and they could give full play to their artistic creativity. This kind of printmaking is called creating printmaking.

The origin of China prints includes Han Dynasty, Eastern Jin Dynasty, Six Dynasties and Sui Dynasty. The earliest existing prints in China are very old and world-famous? Kentong? The book Vajrayana Prajna Sutra was written in 868 AD according to the inscription. Probably unearthed from the Tang tomb in Chengdu, Sichuan? Virtue? Yinbi? Fairchild? It was printed about a hundred years ago. Prints of Tang and Five Dynasties were found in Northwest China and wuyue. Most of the works are simple and handsome, playing with swords. The subject matter is mainly religious scriptures. Emerging prints and ancient copy prints are not only very different in production technology, but also qualitatively different in function and practical significance as art.

Since its birth, the new version of the painting has been closely related to the liberation of the Chinese nation and the fate of the broad masses of people. It is an important part of China's revolutionary literature and art and the main force of left-wing art in 1930s. Printmakers stepped onto the historical stage as artists and revolutionary fighters, and took art as a fighting weapon in a clear-cut manner, which played a great role in the ideological education front. The Ming and Qing Dynasties were the heyday of China printmaking. With the joint efforts of many literati, booksellers and seal engravers, various schools of printmaking have emerged, and a large number of excellent works have been created, showing a prosperous situation.

Not only did religious prints reach their peak in the Ming Dynasty, but also the appreciation of Ming Dynasty prints was greatly improved. Paintings, novels, operas, biographies, poems, etc. They are all excellent works like snow, and the list is endless. In particular, the seal cutting illustrations of literary masterpieces have many versions, spread widely and have far-reaching influence. This period is also a prosperous period of various artistic schools of printmaking. Jian 'an School, centered on Jianyang, Fujian, has many works from folk craftsmen and simple carving. Jinling School, with Nanjing as the center, focuses on operas and novels. Or rough and bold, or elegant and beautiful, with different styles. The Wuling School with Hangzhou as the center has a wide range of themes and exquisite carvings. Huizhou School with Huizhou as the center has a long history and far-reaching influence, and occupies an important position in the cultural history of China. While appreciating a large number of prints left by the development of prints in the past thousand years.