Like any other science, the science of editing and publishing cannot scientifically ascertain its theoretical basis unless it establishes a wholesomely complete view of history. In the Yin Dynasty, inscriptions on shells and animal bones were cultural media, which involved a complete process of editing, carving, duplicating, collecting and disseminating. Their production should be regarded in every sense as editing and publishing activity both in cultural contents and in form of media. So it can be considered as the beginning of Chinese history of edition and publication. The silkcopied edition, the bamboocarved edition, the stonecarved edition, the paperprinted edition as well as modernistic electronic edition and the web edition, which have been developed in later days, can all be regarded as editionmedium media as variations of the edition of inscriptions on shells and animal bones.

history of edition and publication; view of edition; inscriptions on shells and animal bones; printing publication; electronic publication; web publication