Pei-Yen An
We visited Ri Xing Type Foundry this Saturday. It’s located in a small alley around Taiyuan Road in Taipei City. The first thing we saw were Lin word shelf which was created by Mr.Chien-Kuan Chang’s uncle, and we also see the treasure inherited from their ancestors－Lead letterpress printing. Then we followed Mr. Chang to the basement and started our interview. Although Mr. Chang has worked in this industry for ages, he still keeps his passion toward Type printing. He is determined and he has set high standard to achieve perfection. After the interview, Mr. Chang let us experience letterpress printing. Then, he showed us the typecasting machine and the functions of disc printer in the work studio upstairs. I sincerely admire Mr. Chang strong work ethic and I am looking forward to see this unique technique pass on from generation to generation.

Mr. Chien-Kuan Chang’s working zone	Copper Printing Block Shelf

Fan-I Li
It is sunny today. We met up at the Dingxi MRT station and we head toward the Ri Xing Type Foundry right after everyone is here.
As we arrived, the first thing we saw were the Lin word shelf which was created by Mr.Chien-Kuan Chang’s uncle. Mr. Chang welcomed us with a big smile. He first led us to the basement. There were lead printing clocks everywhere. Then, we started the interview, I was responsible for question 6. After one and half hours, we began our first experience activity of movable type experiential box. Mr. Chang introduced the procedures and functions of the typecasting machine and the functions of disc printer.

Time flies. I really learned a lot today and I am grateful. We spent half a day here, but I hope we can learn more about the history and other printing details next time. I am looking forward to next visit.

Yun-Chen Li
As we arrived, the first thing we saw were Lin word shelf which was created by the owner, Mr. Chien-Kuan Chang’s uncle. Mr. Chang is passionate and welcomes our visit. We spent about an hour on interview. After the interview, we had a lot of fun experiencing the movable type experiential box. Then, we went up to first floor. Mr. Chang introduced every machine in details. The typecasting machine, disc printer and Gutenberg printing press are all unique. We took a group picture as our wonderful ending. I believe Mr. Chang would keep leading this traditional industry to a brighter future.

Chi-Wei Tsung
Today is the big day visiting Ri Xing Type Foundry. We took the MRT to Zhongshan station and walk to the tiny shop－Ri Xing Type Foundry. The shop was not significant, even our teacher almost missed it. As we arrived, we directly went downstairs for the interview. The owner first introduced overall history of the type foundry. I was so nervous before asking questions, but Mr. Chang was really nice, and he answered every question in explicit details. Many questions are connected to on and other, so he explained them slowly for our note-taking. He was so thoughtful. After the interview, each of us got the movable type experiential box. It is designed as the simple version of letterpress printing. It is good for the visitors to experience the procedures of movable type printing. We picked the idioms first and then we organized them with tracing paper. Mr. Chang reminded us some techniques while we were doing the procedure of foundry type. He mentioned that slight tilt can make the characters look bubbly. Therefore, I kept his advice in my mind and arranged my layout carefully. Then, it’s time to make the final layout. As long as we put the led printing block properly, the ink could print them on the paper. Afterwards, we went to a specific room for letterpress printing machines. As Mr. Chang activates the machine, I accidentally saw my name! It was amazing!

I enjoyed this trip very much. We have learned a lot of new knowledge. I was so sad that their profit is still in red. This traditional technique is such a beautiful art, but many of us just ignored its beauty. We should work harder on preserving this unique cultural treasure.

Chun-Han Lin
We went to visit Ri Xing Type Foundry today by MRT. The owner of the type foundry told us the history of the movable type printing and the background of the Ri Xing Type Foundry. After the interview, we had an opportunity to experience the movable type experiential box and experience characters selecting, layout arrangement and casting process as well. Also Mr. Change showed us two kinds of printing machine, disc printer and typecasting machine. He demonstrated us the casting process of type as well. At last we took a group photo with Mr. Change. We obtained a lot of new information from this visit. For us, it was a really great trip.

Shao-Ting Lin
We were going to visit Ri Xing Type Foundry on Saturday. We met at the Dingxi Station heading to Zhong shan Station. While arriving at Zhong shan Station, we walked to No13 Lane 97 Taiyuan Road where Ri Xing Type Foundry is located. Ri Xing Type Foundry located in a small alley so it is not easy to be noticed and found. In the foundry, we can see a row of Lin’s word shelf then we had the interview in the basement. In the basement, there are a lot of word shelves and lead printed characters. We had the interview at first. I was in charge of the forth question. Although I was the first one to ask the question, I was still nervous. Mr. Chang answered thoroughly. It can reduce my nervousness. After the interview, we moved on to the movable type experiential box which I was looking forward to. We needed to compose the characters. I edited my lines several times. Finally, I succeed. Mr. Chang introduced the disc printer and typecasting machine in the meantime. Though we’ve seen many pictures and videos through the internet, this is the first time we saw a real typecasting machine and copy machine. Mr. Chang showed us how to operate the typecasting machine. At last, we can touch the real typecasting machine and copy machine. It helps us understand the culture of the type foundry. We took a picture with Mr. Chang and finished our trip.

This interview helps me learn a lot. I can get the knowledge about the typecasting machine and disc printer, etc. What a fantastic day!

Chih-Yu Tsao
I met my teacher at the Di Station then I began my first adventure. It’s hard to find the Ri Xing Type Foundry. When we came to the foundry, we were welcomed with a kind boy and a warm-hearted girl. Finally, we saw the friendly owner, Mr. Chien-Kuan Chang. There are much more space at the basement so we interviewed Mr. Chang at the basement. First, Jie Chang Li began the question. When it’s my turn, I was nervous. It still goes successfully. Mr. Chang answered my questions elaborately and patiently. We had an opportunity to experience the process of foundry type with a movable type experiential box. On the top, there is a notch for paper. At the bottom, you can put lead printed characters. You can cover it then print out the characters. There are paper cutters, rulers and dark green mat in the brown paper bag. Due to the time, we haven’t finished yet. We needed to wait until school starts. If we print out the paper like this way, it will take so many days. It is a really difficult job for people who print newspaper with this traditional printing technique.

In the Ri Xing Type Foundry, we can see an interesting disc printer and typecasting machine which made a crack sound. There are also many lead printed characters on the shelf. Mr. Chang told the history of lead printed characters, FangSong font, ChangSong font, Song font, Bold font and Standard kai font. Nowadays, we only use Song font, Bold font and Standard kai font. Movable-type printing is not only cut-in words, but also embossed words. I learned a lot about the culture of foundry and the knowledge of printing.

The well-established sign says “ancient characters, cherish characters and learning characters”. It also represents old days, nowadays and future. It is a unforgettable and abundant trip. It widens my eyes. I won’t forget the trip for the rest of my life.

Yu-Chen Wei
We were going to Ri Xing Type Foundry and interview Mr. Chang this Saturday. There are many types and fonts of lead printed characters in the type foundry. There is full of lead smell in the foundry. We conducted the interview at the basement. Mr. Chang answered us thoroughly. After the interview, we began to experience the movable type experiential box. First, we needed to pick up the characters. I got the line said “Life is struggle, Life is challenge” from Bao-Chun Wu. Second, we needed to do layout arrangement. It was very easy. We put the characters on the paper. After tracing the characters, we made the model. We cut some grids on the model then put the characters on the grids. At last, we printed. We spread the ink on the characters, put the paper on the box and cover it then press the characters. That’s the whole procedure of the movable type printing.

During the trip, Mr. Chang showed us many printing machines, such as typecasting machine and disc printer. Mr. Chang also showed us copper printing block. This trip widens my eyes and makes me learn a lot.

Chieh-Chang Li
We visited Ri Xing Type Foundry this Saturday. I couldn’t wait to get in when we arrived there. There were a lot of word shelves filled with a lot of lead written characters such as the word of luck, twelve animals and surnames, etc. It was amazing.

We visited the first spot --the basement. We saw a lot of word shelves with the characters. Also, we saw the copper printing blocks and disc printers that we had been taught in class. I was the first one to start the interview and I was very nervous and sweated a lot. When I asked questions, I was stuttering. However, I thought it was better than I practiced privately. Through the interview, I totally changed my thoughts about the concept of foundry type. The lead was not the only materials that are used for the foundry type.

Next, it was an experiential activity. Each of us had an experiential box, and I was so innocent to think it was a cookies box. During visiting, I couldn’t find my surname because it was rare. The owner of the type foundry showed us how to use and operate the disc printer and the typecasting machine. The typecasting machine was a precision equipment and it was complicated to operate.
It was really a rewarding day because not only I saw the typecasting machine but also I gained a lot of knowledge about the foundry type

Data compilation: Chun-Han, Fan-Yi
Photo taken by the camera team of CRS