Culture Insider: The evolution of bookmark in ancient China

An embroidery bookmark [Photo/Weibo.com]

Bookmark for paper books

After the emergence of printing, paper books became popular. The early paper book was made in the form of binding pages together using paper. The silk strip written with book name was used as bookmark and pasted on the book cover. To distinguish with the bookmark of scroll, the bookmark was called "floating mark". The book pages were shorter in length then, and the bookmark didn't have to be inserted into the book to mark the reading process.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), hardcover and paperback book gradually replaced thread-bound book. The book became thicker and the name began to be printed on the cover instead of pasted on the cover. So people began to place the bookmark inside the book to mark the reading process.

The bookmark functioned in the same as we use today. The bookmarks we currently use come in various shapes and materials and are creatively designed.