Exhibition traces the art of Chinese bookbinding through the ages

The exhibition of Ingenuity of Volumes:The Aesthetics of Ancient and Modern Chinese Bookbinding recently opened at the Museum of China Press and Publication in Shanghai, turning the spotlight on the beauty of books as physical objects and tracing the cultural roots and meanings embedded in their forms.

Featuring more than 50 exhibits, the exhibition spans the many forms bookbinding has taken from ancient times to the present. Through traditional Chinese binding, contemporary creative binding, and the transmission of intangible cultural heritage techniques, it explores paper textures, binding craftsmanship, book-protection tools, and multisensory experiences, revealing the aesthetic evolution of bookbinding in craft, materials, and innovation.

The exhibition is arranged in three sections: the basics of modern books, traditional Chinese bookbinding, and modern bookbinding. Bookbinding encompasses the entire art of shaping a book, including layout design, illustrations, material selection, printing and processing, binding styles, and outer packaging. It must meet practical needs, allowing books to be opened easily, stored properly, and preserved over time. At the same time, it must convey beauty through form, materials, craftsmanship, and artistry. A book is a physical vessel for words, knowledge, and ideas, as well as a work of visual art.

In the first section, visitors can learn the basic principles of bookbinding and see how a book is assembled. Samples and explanations of common binding techniques clearly illustrate the characteristics and most suitable applications of each method.

The second section is the highlight. It traces the development and changing forms of traditional Chinese bookbinding, from bamboo slips and silk manuscripts to scroll binding, wrapped-back binding, and, finally, thread binding. Each form is accompanied by diagrams and physical exhibits, and some include sample books that visitors can handle and leaf through. Together, these displays offer a comprehensive view of the craftsmanship behind ancient books across the centuries, as well as the continuity of tradition and changing aesthetic tastes in Chinese book art.

The third section explores contemporary aesthetics and brings together numerous outstanding examples of book design. Visitors can experience the creativity and diverse forms of expression that today's book designers bring to their work. Drawing on traditional binding techniques while exploring new possibilities in cover imagery, materials, layout, and book structure, they create innovative forms of bookbinding that are visually appealing, engaging to use, and rich in cultural resonance.