Korean Metal Movable Type Printing

Timeline

1. 1403Hanseong · Gyeonggi ProvinceKorea's King Taejong ordered the casting of early metal type such as the 'Bingzi type' and established type-casting and printing institutions, marking the formal start of the Joseon dynasty's state-led movable type printing system, continuing the Goryeo Jikji tradition and expanding its application.
2. 1431Jipyeongjeon, Hanseong · HanseongDuring Sejong's reign, he repeatedly ordered improvements to casting techniques, casting new type molds such as the 'Guiyou type' in the 1430s, refining the face, body, and typesetting standards, greatly improving print clarity and publishing efficiency, supporting the printing of many official works such as the Nongseo and Leishuo.
3. 1446–1600Korean Peninsula · Korean PeninsulaMovable type printing became one of the main publishing methods of the Korean court and scholar-official class, printing large numbers of books alongside cultural projects such as Hunminjeongeum; the division of labor in casting, composing, and printing became increasingly specialized, and Korea's metal movable type system entered a mature stage.