隋唐时期佣书活动与雕版印刷术发展关系的再探讨

Further Exploration into the Relationship between Copying and Development of Engraving Printing in the Sui and Tang Dynasties

佣书是指我国古代贫困知识分子受雇替人进行抄写活动而获取报酬的一种行为。隋唐时期,佣书业一时极盛,推动了写本图书走上顶峰。在科举制度发展和佛教进一步兴盛的背景下,佣书内容日益集中化,手抄复制文本的内容逐步转为科举及佛教相关内容,推动了佣书业为提高书文的出版效率而不断创新方法。佣书人应当是推动我国古代雕版印刷术发明发展的重要人群代表。

Copying means poor intellectuals in ancient China were hired to handwrite books and thus got paid.In the Sui and Tang Dynasties,the copying activity was extremely prosperous,and pushed the development of hand-copied books to the top.With the development of the imperial examination system and the further booming of Buddhism,the contents of copying became increasingly centralized,with focus gradually shifted onto imperial examination and Buddhism.In the meantime,innovative copying methods were continuously introduced in order to improve the efficiency of publishing.The copyists were a typical group of people who had boosted the invention and advancement of ancient Chinese engraving printing.