Anyone who reads books or newspaper in Chinese should thank Wang Xuan, a pioneer of modern Chinese-language printing.
Wang 1 as the father of Chinese-language typesetting (排版). He invented a computerized laser photo composition system (计算机激光排照系统) for Chinese characters in the 1970s, turning 2 new page in the history of printing in China. 3 Wang's invention, people printed books and newspapers with movable block type (活字印刷). This was invented 4 Bi Sheng in 1040. It would take more than 30 people 8 hours a day 5 just one page of a newspaper.
Wang changed this situation. In 1974, he 6 to research the laser photo composition. This was the most advanced printing method at the time. Only a few Western countries 7 on it, but it was not yet on the market. Because there was not any experience for him to borrow from, it was so difficult 8 he had to work over 65 hours a week.
In 1980, Wang's hard work finally paid off and he worked 9 . A 26-page story about kung fu became 10 first laser-printed book. With Wang's system, a newspaper could typeset in just 20 minutes. China's printing industry has said goodbye to the times of lead and fire.
