Bi Sheng is a commoner and his ancestry and details were not recorded other than the information given in the Writings Beside the Meng Creek (Mengxi Bitan, or Dream Pool Essays) by Chinese scholar, official, and polymath scientist Shen Kuo (1031–1095).

Writings Beside the Meng Creek, however, gives detailed and sufficient description on the technical details of Bi Sheng's invention of movable type.

Bi Sheng's fragile clay types are not practical for large-scale printing.

The government official Wang Zhen (fl.

1290–1333) will improve Bi Sheng's fragile clay types by innovation through wood; his process will increased the speed of typesetting as well.

Later in China by 1490, cast bronze movable type will be developed by the wealthy printer Hua Sui (1439–1513).