Around AD 768-770 Buddhist missionaries from China introduced hand-printing technology into Japan .The oldest Japanese book, the Buddhist Diamond Sutra was printed in AD 868, it contained six sheets of text and woodcut illustrations. Books were very popular in Japan. Poets and writers published their books regularly. Books were cheap and easily available.In Japan pictures were printed on textiles, playing cards and paper money. Printing of pictures made publishing practices interesting. In the late eighteenth century, collections of paintings showing the urban culture were published.There were pictures of artists, courtesans, and teahouse gatherings. Libraries and bookstores were filled with hand-printed books on women, musical instruments, calculations, tea ceremony, flower arrangements, proper etiquette, cooking and famous places.