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152 Journal of Library Science in China, Vol.11, 2019

cognitive difference research in IIR, mobile search behavior based on eye-tracking, IIR research in
natural environment, and the combination of eye-tracking and other research methods, especially
neuropsychological methods.

No.3

A new view on ancient Chinese movable type printing (Ⅰ)
CHEN Li 〇a ∗

The movable type printing did not become the mainstream of document duplication in ancient
China due to its characteristics and social environment. At the same time, in ancient Korea
and at the end of Middle Ages in Europe, movable type printing was more popular. Movable
type printing was fit for mass printing, but not as appropriate for long-term printing of the
same book as woodblock printing. China’s vast territory made the cost of central printing and
transporting too high, so local printing industry was more developed. Local governments,
academies and individuals all printed books. Woodblock printing was widely used because
of limited print run and long-term printing. Therefore, movable type printing did not apply to
the feudal Chinese society. Learning from Chinese movable type printing, the ancient Korea
combined it with local characteristics and movable type printing was widely applied. The Korea
set up the Central Book Academy responsible for the movable type casting, and printing and
distribution of printed books. The movable type printing is exactly suitable for mass production
of books.
Different from contemporary Chinese feudal social environment, the Europe in the middle of
fifteenth century when Johannes Gutenberg (1397-1468, German) invented type metal was just
on the eve of European religious and industrial revolution. Social structure and commercial and
industrial environment including capital market were changing. Capitalist management mode
also promoted printing and publishing to develop from workshop to modern enterprise. Besides,
alphabetic writing is more appropriate for movable typesetting than Chinese characters. All those
factors facilitated the application and development of movable type printing in Europe.
Although movable type printing was not the mainstream of printing in ancient China, it still
played a significant role in cultural communication. The movable type printing and woodblock
printing are among the greatest contributions of the Chinese to the world.

* Correspondence should be addressed to CHEN Li, Email: chenli@nlc.cn, ORCID: 0000-0002-8309-4510