Woodblock printing, like paper, was developed in China. The worldwide oldest known woodblock book, the diamond-sutra from Dunhuang, dates from 868. The first motives were religious. For believers in Buddhism pictures of saints and amulets were reproduced this way.  However, woodblock printing in China was not considered to be a separate form of art, and only just used for exact copying of existing paintings.

Yayuta (Yayuta the Fish Monger) is a beautiful Japanese woodblock by Toyokuni. By itself it measures 9.5" x 14" and with the frame it measures 15.5" x 20".