On January 15, a ceremony was held at the National Museum of China (NMC) to honor Professor Chen Kunqiu for her donation of the research materials of the Chinese character laser phototypesetting system to the NMC. Thirteen pieces of research materials entered NMC's collections this time, including the design manuscript of the principle prototype of the laser typesetting system, the sample sheet of the first edition of the newspaper Chinese Character Information Processing, a newspaper copy of Guangming Daily reporting on laser typesetting, the film for checking type matrix, the proof copy for font function. They are historical evidence of China's printing technology "bidding farewell to lead and fire, ushering in light and electricity" and a witness of the joint efforts by the scientist couple Professor Chen Kunqiu and her late husband CAS Academician Wang Xuan.
Wang Chunfa, director of the NMC, Chen Kunqiu, professor at the Wangxuan Institute of Computer Technology, Peking University, Wang Quan, level-one inspector at the Printing and Distribution Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Zhang Pingwen, vice president of Peking University, Zhang Zhaodong, CPC Committee member of Founder Group, Yao Weihao, director of Office of Science and Technology Development, Peking University, and Ye Zhiyuan, Guo Zongming and Tang Zhi from the Wangxuan Institute of Computer Technology, Peking University attended the ceremony. Chen Chengjun, executive deputy director of the NMC, presided over the ceremony.
Wang Chunfa first expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Professor Chen Kunqiu with high respect. He also paid tribute to CAS Academician Wang Xuan, who created the Chinese character laser typesetting technology. He said that the 13 pieces of research materials were precious evidence left by the couple during their joint research and also the witness of them sharing weal and woe to make research breakthrough. The NMC will carefully sort out, keep, study and display the precious evidence.
Professor Chen said that the donation covered the most representative items during the period from the research of principle prototype to the gradual commercial use of Chinese character laser typesetting technology. In particular, the sample copy of "Chinese Character Information Processing" is the first Chinese newspaper in China to use the "computer-laser Chinese character editing and typesetting system" to output the whole edition, marking that China's printing technology "bade farewell to lead and fire, ushered in light and electricity."
Wang Quan said that these items are not only a faithful record of the glorious footprints of the scientific and technological workers and the predecessors of the printing industry in China since 1949, but also a memento of Wang Xuan's spirit of daring to pioneer, reform and innovate, persevering and selfless dedication. They provide profound educational enlightenment for the progress of the new generation of printers in China and the high-quality development of the printing industry in the future.
On behalf of Peking University, Zhang Pingwen paid high tribute to CAS Academician Wang Xuan and Professor Chen. He hoped that Peking University and the NMC would further deepen their cooperation, jointly hold exhibitions of cultural relics and carry out collaborative research projects between museums and universities, so as to make new contributions to enhancing cultural confidence.
NMC Director Wang Chunfa presented the collection certificate to Professor Chen, and they took a photo together.