Korea is the metal type invention country which originated and developed the metal printing type before 13th century. However, it has not being studied about who, when, where and how many type casting had and published out in early metal type printing...
Korea is the metal type invention country which originated and developed the metal printing type before 13th century. However, it has not being studied about who, when, where and how many type casting had and published out in early metal type printing precisely. The study was not able to be made progress is that because the Jikji, to be known as the world existence oldest metal type printed book, 2nd volume is possessed in BibliothĿque Nationale de France. Therefore, what we cannot definitely clarify about the type casting method as well as the most basic in metal typography is the reality.
The purpose of this study is to study the method of Jikji type casting and to analyze the problems in Bees-wax casting which became an established theory in a learned society. And had analyzed the characteristic of the bibliography of the Jikji and the examples of the character trace, and compared, analyzed with Gyemi-ja font which was cast 26 years later than Jikji.
The results are as follow.
First, in the existing studies, Bees-wax casting known as the Jikji type casting were deficient in documents record, and excessive use of beeswax and complexity of the casting process and phenomenon that the same words were different shape in the same pages. Especially, in the case of Goryeo the type, 'Bok' turned out that it was cast by Send-casting.
Second, it was confirmed that each types were cast in different time by analyzing bibliographical features and examples of trace words of Jikji. It enabled to be confirmed that the same words were different shape in the same pages accordingly. In another word, to supplement the type from the origin used, the transcription written by different person makes different shapes is for certain. It turned out to be more different by mix in the wooden type as for a supplemental letter.
Third, the Jikji type had compared and analyzed with Sipchil -sachan-gogeum-tongyo(十七史纂古今通要) that printed by Gyemi-ja font.
In metal casting, the Gyemi-ja was more even than Jikji type but the type size wasn’t as regular as Jikji type. It common appear that plate form was stick with frame and inner guiding line and each letter gear with each. It means the type casting were the same.
The thickness and size of the letter stroke of Jikji that made in local temple(personality) was the less irregular than Gyemi-ja font that made in the offices of the central government during Joseon dynasty, but in the aspect of developing typography, Jikji type and Gyemi-ja font had many mutual connections, positively showed its process of their improvement and development.
Fourth, all the cast were able to be success after the restoration and experiment on Jikji type by Send-casting. But as to compared with Eomi-ja(母字, Wooden type), less shaper and the edge of stroke had round shape, which proved that Jikji was a movable metal type.
Especially, the stroke of 'Sa(寺)', unlike the Eomi-ja that the strokes of the letter links, shows going down. It was the phenomenon which arises while the shapes of Eomi-ja haven't being engraved as it should be during the firm casting process in casting frame. On the occasion of making Eomi-ja with beeswax, the phenomenon can't be happened unless being cut off purposely. This feature easily found in types of Jikji and Gyemi-ja font, it is clear proof that Jikji's types were cast by Send-casting.
Finally, different shape shows in the same pages is not because Jikji type casting were made by Bees-wax casting but because made by Send-casting which was differs in making Eomi-ja. The Type- casting didn't make just for printing Jikji. Movable metal type had already been invented but it seems have been supplied up for many types through several times and finally got printed Jikji in 1377. Therefore, we were able to learn that the casting of Movable metal type was earlier than the printing of Jikji.
Like these movable metal type printing technology had became a chance to develop Gyemi-ja font in 1403(King Taejong, the 3rd reign), Gyeongja-ja font in 1420(King Sejong, the 2nd reign), Gapin-ga font in 1434(King Sejong, the 16th reign).
In the future, I will continuously analyze the technology of casting types and research about typesetting, print, ink and paper through scientific and systematic survey.