the beginning of the book

This book is far from traditional. the cover is not attached but wrapped around the rest of the text. Instead of every page being laced together so you can flip through like a normal text book, this book is folded like an accordion. Each page falls out attached to the next so when pulled out all the way it can lay as one long page of information on both sides. It is a type of foam core material with layers of thin paper and wood samples inbetween glued on top of it.

This way of binding could have been taken from the early 8th century AD chinese era. Once China began wood block printing binding together books rather than using scrolls became more of a norm. Of course binding at first did take a scroll like form. Keeping the scroll form they would glue each page together and fold it instead of stitching all of them together. By glueing each page together and folding it they left a scroll like affect where all the text can be laid out in one long strip instead of it being flipped through like a book. 

This binding is far from new but it hasn't been used often. Folding glued pages together didn't last into the 9th century, for they picked up on many different stitchings of paper together. It brings this book more life by adding a more interactive way about reading. It makes it seem as if there is way more than is shown. Leaves this sense of mystery and awe.