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A Study on the Technique of Casting Metal Movable Types in the Late Joseon Period

Kim, Sung-Soo 1

1청주대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research is to establish from a new perspective the concept of the technique of casting metal movable types in the late Joseon Period. In this research, with the focus mainly on ‘Imjin-Ja(1772)’ and other movable types, including ‘Musin-Ja Hangul Types(1668)’, ‘Gyoseogwan Inseoche-Ja(Before 1684)’, ‘Jeongyu-Ja(1777)’, ‘Jeongli-Ja(1796)’ and ‘Han Gu-Ja(Mid-17th century, 1794, 1858)’, it was attempted to investigate the methodology of casting metal movable types during this period. It was tested how to restore and cast metal movable types, based on some clues of the technique of casting Imjin-Ja. Major findings from this research are as follows: First, it was successful to try the new method of casting movable types in the late Joseon Period which include the following procedure: ① Wooden movable types whose top and bottom were separate from each other were used as ‘father types(父字)’, ② In a female mould(bottom part of a mould), top parts of ‘father types’(face of a letter) were inserted to form ‘mother types(母字)’, ③ In a male mould(top part of a mould), bottom parts of ‘father types’(a tunnel-shaped bottom of a letter) were inserted to form ‘mother types’, ④ Top and bottom parts were joined to form complete ‘mother types’, ⑤ By pouring melt metals into space of mother types, metal movable types with a double-deck tunnel-shaped bottom were successfully formed. Second, the characteristics and effects of this new method include the following: ① Only few dozens of ‘tunnel-shaped bottom’ parts of ‘father types’ were needed to be cast. They could be repeatedly used to definitely shorten the period of making the whole set of ‘father types’, ② In casting, the procedures of making both male and female moulds could be efficiently divided and handled, ③ Metals of ‘movable types with a double-deck tunnel-shaped bottom’ could be soon cooled down so as to shorten the time of casting and improve the rate of completion. Third, it is assumed that the technique of casting metal types in the late Joseon Period was much improved from the technique in the early Joseon Period. Also, it also brought into division of labor and increased the efficiency so as to shorten the time of making and improving the whole process.

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