Recently, I started reading the version of "Don Quixote" by Yang Jiang, a novel from the 15th century. Knights, absurdity, humor—one could say it was created in opposition to other types of knight novels of the time. From my perspective, isn't this just a fight against "fakes"? Other novels depict various bright, happy, and magical knights, while Don Quixote goes against the grain.
The 15th century. Novels seem to have already become popular. This must be related to the invention of movable type printing. The religious reform in Rome and movable type printing complemented each other; originally, only high-ranking individuals could read the Bible, but now anyone could directly access the stories and will of God. The handicraft industry in Germany was already emerging at this time.
I suspect that the stamp was inspired by Bi Sheng. I checked and found three stamps from the Yin Ruins. The oldest bronze stamp in China was discovered at the Yin Ruins. Bi Sheng invented movable type printing around 1045, but it had not yet become widespread. There were many materials used.
This technological skill point is key to why China did not fall; the country, civilization, and pyramid of technology were over a thousand years ahead of China's technology. However, that country did not develop movable type printing. It wasn't until the 14th century that missionaries (the theological class was quite wealthy and idle) learned it from China.
The early development of this technology in China is closely related to its pictographic writing, but pictographic writing is complex, and the efficiency of producing it was actually not as high as that of 26 letters (which might have been even fewer at the time, as I remember "w" was often used as "double u" and became a single letter). This is also the advantage of alphabetic countries; the 26-letter interpreter explains the world, just like why modern programming is powerful—it's the strong combination of letters and binary code. This is also why children are learning English at younger ages. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication; if it's right, then what I'm saying might not be a problem.
Having many skills is never a burden; foreign languages and programming still need to be learned. Just like the extra points for minority students in the college entrance examination in the western regions, which was +90 points at that time. I think that's a lot. Now it seems that some minority students start with learning three languages: English, Chinese, and their native language. Language is a world, and if one possesses three worlds, they should get extra points.
References
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Wu Yonggui 丨 Encountering China and the West: A Technical and Social History of Western-style Chinese Movable Type_The Paper
Movable Type Printing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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One person's opinion is quite interesting. They say it's counterintuitive that China has not played a promoting role in modern civilization, contemporary civilization, or even ancient civilization, including the much-touted Four Great Inventions and five thousand years of slave history.
The compass. Navigation—if you don't walk straight, you immediately veer off into a diagonal line. Western navigation relies on astronomy and sextants, calculating the angles of stars and gunpowder.
Misfires, burst barrels, reduced to fireworks and movable type printing. Those who can try it will find it immediately crooked and messy, only able to print some scriptures and then burn them, leading to the invention of papermaking.
In fact, there was already paper, papyrus, and Aristotle's works, which have been passed down with three million words, dating back to 384 BC.