Zhang Yang

    nicolezyyy@163.com

    AN old-fashioned machine that engraves small metal cubes with Chinese characters drew a crowd during a free-entry event featuring movable-type printing held at Futian Cultural Center on Saturday, the 11th China’s Cultural Heritage Day.

    The machine’s operator, Lu Jinhui, has worked as a technician to produce movable type for several decades, but he said these machines have been phased out by printing factories in China. “We restored this machine by assembling components from other broken machines we collected across the country,” he said.

    Apart from the machine, movable type made from materials such as lead, copper, tin, wood and clay were displayed. Visitors could print on bookmarks or postcards by arranging the movable characters on a printing plate and applying ink.

    The event was initiated by the Futian government and organized by the Shenzhen Zizai Cultural Communication Co. Ltd., a cultural brand specializing in movable-type printing. The company, founded in 2013, has 15 outlets nationwide, including four in Shenzhen.

    “Most people’s impression about movable-type printing comes from books. The same goes for other ancient inventions like the compass and gunpowder,” the company’s founder Liu Meisong said, adding that many people consider these inventions disconnected from their daily life.

    Liu said the company is dedicated to connecting movable-type printing with creative products.

    “Most of our products are stylish and relevant to people’s daily life, and we are looking for something that could interest young customers,” he said.

    Ma Yiyuan, chief operating officer of Hanyi Fonts, a Chinese typeface design company based in Beijing, said she was impressed by “what was alive” during the event, such as the movable type producing machine that still works and artisans who are skillful in movable type production. “Chinese traditional culture is fertile ground for the creative cultural industry. It’s easier for products featuring traditional culture to win Chinese people’s recognition,” said Ma, who believes integrating traditional culture with entrepreneurship will benefit the development of the creative cultural industry.

    A visitor surnamed Deng said his 5-year-old son learned a lot of things about movable-type printing during the event. “Apart from the exhibition, there were many interactive games during the event that children could participate in,” he said.

    Movable-type printing is one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. The world’s first-known movable-type printing was created in China over 900 years ago by Bi Sheng during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).A man talks to visitors at the Shenzhen Museum on Saturday, where a series of events were held to mark the 11th China’s Cultural Heritage Day. Sun Yuchen