Japanese tourists learn stone rubbing techniques at the Inscription Museum in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, July 31, 2016. [Photo by Wang Jiankang/asianews photo]

A group of Japanese tourists learned to print several ancient Chinese classics, including the Lantingji Xu, or Orchid Pavilion Preface, at the Inscription Museum in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

Stone rubbing originated around the seventh century, or perhaps much earlier in China. By then, the Chinese had developed a method of making multiple copies of old inscribed records, using paper and ink.

By rubbing hard rendering materials over the paper, pigment is deposited over protrusions and on edges; depressions remain unpigmented since the pliable paper moves away from the rendering material.

Common rendering materials include charcoal, wax, graphite or inksticks.