ON THE ORIGIN OF MOVABLE METAL-TYPE TECHNIQUE

China is the birthplace of woodblock, copperplate and non-metal-type p rinting, movable metal-type technique, as the product of combination o f copperplate and non-metal-type technique, also originated in China. However, the problem on the origin of metal-type has not well been sol ved for a long time. This paper proved that metal-type was cast and us ed for paper money printing in China since the early 12th century, cop per-type and tin-type technique was further developed during the 13th to 14th centuries, on the basis of investigation of excavated findings , textual research and scientific judgment. Finally a comparative rese arch of the early metal-type technique in China, Korea and Europe was briefly discussed. A lot of unearthed material evidence were provided here.