Printing in East Asia originated from the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 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 Asia, the idea of the printing press eventually reached Europe, which improved on the design with the introduction mechanical press. The Chinese used only clay and wood movable type at first. The use of metal movable type was known in Korea by the 13th century. From the 17th century to the 19th century in Japan, woodblock prints