Metal typography, stone lithography and the dissemination of Ming-Qing popular fictions in Shanghai between 1874 and 1911

Abstract

Based on historical documents concerning reprinted or illustrated editions of Ming-Qing popular fictions and the sequels to some of them, this article presents a study of the widespread use of typographic and lithographic printing in Shanghai between 1874 and 1911 and the dissemination of Ming-Qing popular fictions. The advent and widespread use of typographic and lithographic printing had both positive and negative effects on the dissemination of Ming-Qing popular fictions, which finalized the transformation of Chinese fiction written in the colloquial style from traditional popular fiction to new fiction or modern fiction in the late Qing period.

Keywords

Shanghai (1874–1911) / metal typography / stone lithography / Ming-Qing popular fictions

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Brill