Bi Sheng was a Chinese inventor who lived during the Song Dynasty in the 11th century. He is best known for creating the first movable type printing system using clay. This innovation allowed for the mass production of texts, making literature and information more accessible to the public. His invention laid the groundwork for future printing technologies, influencing the spread of knowledge in China and beyond. Bi Sheng's work is considered a significant milestone in the history of printing, paving the way for the later development of metal movable type by Johannes Gutenberg in Europe.