Introduction of Rubbings
Chinese invented rubbings at the beginning of the seventh century to preserve and make multiple copies of pictorial or calligraphy from stone slabs or cave/cliff stone carvings.
The content of rubbings is encyclopedic. They provide historical and artistic value unavailable elsewhere. A rubbing by accurately reproducing every line of the original in a white impression on black background, provides a sharper and more readable image.
To preserve the original art works, most of these famous inscriptions and cave/cliff stone carvings were collected by national museums and only a limited number of rubbings are available now.