farfel_n02_157_126

126
Sept. '82
J.S. Edgrer, Carmel
$20

(Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government)
Tzu-chih t'ung-chien (Chinese history)
Korean edition printed with bronze moveable types
3rd Korean font (Kabinja, cast 1434) and carved wooden types,
printed c. late 16-17 century. whole folio.
Format: 10 columns of 17 characters
Border:double, 25.8x18.4cm. (1/2folio)
Size of type face L. 1.4x1.6cm S. 1.4x0.8cm

-200,000 Types were cast for this first font of kabinga, and its
attractive appearance + general popularity led to its being
imitated several times during the Yi dynasty. (1392-1910)
It is also known as wibuinja.
-By the 16th C many of the original kabinga Types of 1434
were worn beyond use, or were otherwise missing, and it
became the practice to carve temporary replacements.
This mixed use of metal + wooden Types is found
increasingly until their destruction of the time of Japanese
invasion of Korea in 1592.

The change of dynasties (1392) resulted in a stimulus to book
publishing which culminated in the 1st official bronze font
being cast in 1403. These Types were called kyemija
after the cyclical name, kyemi, for that year (this system of
naming fonts was used througout the period). It should
be borne in mind that printing with metal types was a
government monopoly in the Yi dynasty + that
woodblocking printing continued unabeted at the same
time. Note also that most of the books were written entirely
in Chinese, which served as the standard literary medium,
much as Latin did in Europe at one time.
In 1455, contemporary with Gutenberg's activity in Europe
the Koreans cast their sixth metal font called Tuhuja.
Kabinja - first of the early Types, remained in use for the
longest period.