Yun Xie
@yunxie.bsky.social
Passion is a finite research resource. History is at once art and science. Art history and book history, history of knowledge. Hongkong Type matrices. Non Latin typography and typefoundery. PhDing @ UGent. ERC: PhiSci.
Good lettering stands on its own! 😎
November 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Good lettering stands on its own! 😎
“国学=屁说” “国学=粪学”
During his 1.5 hr talk, Joshua Fogel generously treated us to Wu Zhihui吴稚晖’s snarky lines about guoxue国学……😎
During his 1.5 hr talk, Joshua Fogel generously treated us to Wu Zhihui吴稚晖’s snarky lines about guoxue国学……😎
November 15, 2025 at 8:52 AM
“国学=屁说” “国学=粪学”
During his 1.5 hr talk, Joshua Fogel generously treated us to Wu Zhihui吴稚晖’s snarky lines about guoxue国学……😎
During his 1.5 hr talk, Joshua Fogel generously treated us to Wu Zhihui吴稚晖’s snarky lines about guoxue国学……😎
Vincent van Gogh made this lithography of “potato eaters” by himself and sent it to his brother Theo and some friends as a prior announcement of the painting.
1885.
Litho technique allowed artists to express their own artistic style in a mass production way without compromising the quality.
1885.
Litho technique allowed artists to express their own artistic style in a mass production way without compromising the quality.
November 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Vincent van Gogh made this lithography of “potato eaters” by himself and sent it to his brother Theo and some friends as a prior announcement of the painting.
1885.
Litho technique allowed artists to express their own artistic style in a mass production way without compromising the quality.
1885.
Litho technique allowed artists to express their own artistic style in a mass production way without compromising the quality.
David Beckham has been knighted. Great news for him. But the British Royal household could choose a better design for the medal box, rather than the sans-serif font and some slightly dubious foil stamping…..
November 5, 2025 at 11:52 AM
David Beckham has been knighted. Great news for him. But the British Royal household could choose a better design for the medal box, rather than the sans-serif font and some slightly dubious foil stamping…..
Tian Wang’s Talisman, ward off disasters and banish evil spirits. From recent purchases,
perfect for Halloween.
perfect for Halloween.
October 31, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Tian Wang’s Talisman, ward off disasters and banish evil spirits. From recent purchases,
perfect for Halloween.
perfect for Halloween.
At a printing art fair, I found a Chinese woodblock, carved on both sides双面雕刻. Combine elements of folk religion and medicine: at the top are Guanyin zuolian 观音座莲 and Huguo jiangjun 护国将军 (referring to Nezha哪吒). Below seem to be some medical prescriptions, such as Siwu Huadu Tang 四物化毒汤 and so on.
October 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
At a printing art fair, I found a Chinese woodblock, carved on both sides双面雕刻. Combine elements of folk religion and medicine: at the top are Guanyin zuolian 观音座莲 and Huguo jiangjun 护国将军 (referring to Nezha哪吒). Below seem to be some medical prescriptions, such as Siwu Huadu Tang 四物化毒汤 and so on.
In the special collections exhibition at the KU Leuven Library, two 18th-century silk prints: one a graduation thesis and the other a congratulatory poem, both common subjects for silk printing at the time. @drkarrschmidt.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 10:44 AM
In the special collections exhibition at the KU Leuven Library, two 18th-century silk prints: one a graduation thesis and the other a congratulatory poem, both common subjects for silk printing at the time. @drkarrschmidt.bsky.social
In the metal-type era, the way European punchcutters tracked the flow of straight lines, curves, ascenders, and descenders is strikingly similar to Chinese calligraphy’s sense of structure and strokes, so called 间架结构.
October 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
In the metal-type era, the way European punchcutters tracked the flow of straight lines, curves, ascenders, and descenders is strikingly similar to Chinese calligraphy’s sense of structure and strokes, so called 间架结构.
Find a new flavor chips at toko, not sure if I should try: stir fried razor clams!
October 15, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Find a new flavor chips at toko, not sure if I should try: stir fried razor clams!
K-pop star, Blackpink’s Jennie just launched her own brand Korean font, Zen Serif.
October 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
K-pop star, Blackpink’s Jennie just launched her own brand Korean font, Zen Serif.
Little joy of archival research: spotting typos!
大平—> 太平
原木—>原本
It is a 19c Brill’s catalog for clients, supposed to be their best quality…..
大平—> 太平
原木—>原本
It is a 19c Brill’s catalog for clients, supposed to be their best quality…..
October 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Little joy of archival research: spotting typos!
大平—> 太平
原木—>原本
It is a 19c Brill’s catalog for clients, supposed to be their best quality…..
大平—> 太平
原木—>原本
It is a 19c Brill’s catalog for clients, supposed to be their best quality…..
At Leiden University Library’s Special Collections, came across a lithograph portrait of missionary Karl Gutzlaff with his Chinese name 郭实猎. Printed by Wed. P. Barbiers in Zwolle.
"Wed" was a common label in the printing trade when a widow continued her late husband’s business.
"Wed" was a common label in the printing trade when a widow continued her late husband’s business.
October 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
At Leiden University Library’s Special Collections, came across a lithograph portrait of missionary Karl Gutzlaff with his Chinese name 郭实猎. Printed by Wed. P. Barbiers in Zwolle.
"Wed" was a common label in the printing trade when a widow continued her late husband’s business.
"Wed" was a common label in the printing trade when a widow continued her late husband’s business.
A fine made book (1919) about Amsterdam printer Spin uses different symbolic en-têtes (by Dirk Nijland) for each chapter, e.g.:
Half raised curtain: story begins;
Rise of lithography;
Impact of Belgian independence;
Rail and shipping networks shaping book trade.
Half raised curtain: story begins;
Rise of lithography;
Impact of Belgian independence;
Rail and shipping networks shaping book trade.
October 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
A fine made book (1919) about Amsterdam printer Spin uses different symbolic en-têtes (by Dirk Nijland) for each chapter, e.g.:
Half raised curtain: story begins;
Rise of lithography;
Impact of Belgian independence;
Rail and shipping networks shaping book trade.
Half raised curtain: story begins;
Rise of lithography;
Impact of Belgian independence;
Rail and shipping networks shaping book trade.
17th century men teach you how to be a perfect woman…
Antique book fair in Amsterdam.
Antique book fair in Amsterdam.
September 27, 2025 at 11:01 AM
17th century men teach you how to be a perfect woman…
Antique book fair in Amsterdam.
Antique book fair in Amsterdam.
Gustave Schlegel (1840-1903). Sinologist at Leiden.
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Gustave Schlegel (1840-1903). Sinologist at Leiden.
Today, with the heart of a pilgrim, I visited the grave of Johann Joseph Hoffmann, the 1st professor of Sinology and Japanology in Leiden.
To my surprise, just one gravestone away, lies Taco Roorda, the 19th-century professor of Javanese.
Groenesteeg graveyard Leiden.
To my surprise, just one gravestone away, lies Taco Roorda, the 19th-century professor of Javanese.
Groenesteeg graveyard Leiden.
September 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Today, with the heart of a pilgrim, I visited the grave of Johann Joseph Hoffmann, the 1st professor of Sinology and Japanology in Leiden.
To my surprise, just one gravestone away, lies Taco Roorda, the 19th-century professor of Javanese.
Groenesteeg graveyard Leiden.
To my surprise, just one gravestone away, lies Taco Roorda, the 19th-century professor of Javanese.
Groenesteeg graveyard Leiden.
Sorry you had a bad day. Here is my dog Lisa….
September 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Sorry you had a bad day. Here is my dog Lisa….
Bought this furoshiki at the Printing Museum in Tokyo, with the print as a Chinese typesetting chart, I’m wearing it as a mini scarf….
September 13, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Bought this furoshiki at the Printing Museum in Tokyo, with the print as a Chinese typesetting chart, I’m wearing it as a mini scarf….
Best surprise after a long trip back: my article got picked for journal cover!🥳
“Three centuries of Chinese printing in the Netherlands”, in Yearbook for Dutch Book History, 32/2025
“Three centuries of Chinese printing in the Netherlands”, in Yearbook for Dutch Book History, 32/2025
September 6, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Best surprise after a long trip back: my article got picked for journal cover!🥳
“Three centuries of Chinese printing in the Netherlands”, in Yearbook for Dutch Book History, 32/2025
“Three centuries of Chinese printing in the Netherlands”, in Yearbook for Dutch Book History, 32/2025
Two more:
Linguistic landscapes of Southeast Asia Chinese communities
Institute of History and Philology and Chinese Historiography
Linguistic landscapes of Southeast Asia Chinese communities
Institute of History and Philology and Chinese Historiography
September 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Two more:
Linguistic landscapes of Southeast Asia Chinese communities
Institute of History and Philology and Chinese Historiography
Linguistic landscapes of Southeast Asia Chinese communities
Institute of History and Philology and Chinese Historiography
In 1935, Fu Sinian傅斯年 (1st left) invited Paul Pelliot (2nd left) to visit the 11th archaeological excavation at Yinxu, Anyang. The 3rd left is Liang Siyong梁思永.
September 4, 2025 at 5:40 AM
In 1935, Fu Sinian傅斯年 (1st left) invited Paul Pelliot (2nd left) to visit the 11th archaeological excavation at Yinxu, Anyang. The 3rd left is Liang Siyong梁思永.
New books acquired in Beijing.
September 4, 2025 at 4:12 AM
New books acquired in Beijing.
Reading a book《古人的称谓》, which gives an overview of complicated naming system in ancient China.
A little quiz for Sinologists here:
杜甫, 字 “子美”, often called himself “杜陵野老.” Later generations also call him “杜陵,” though he was from 河南巩县.
How should we understand all these different names for杜甫？🤗
A little quiz for Sinologists here:
杜甫, 字 “子美”, often called himself “杜陵野老.” Later generations also call him “杜陵,” though he was from 河南巩县.
How should we understand all these different names for杜甫？🤗
September 3, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Reading a book《古人的称谓》, which gives an overview of complicated naming system in ancient China.
A little quiz for Sinologists here:
杜甫, 字 “子美”, often called himself “杜陵野老.” Later generations also call him “杜陵,” though he was from 河南巩县.
How should we understand all these different names for杜甫？🤗
A little quiz for Sinologists here:
杜甫, 字 “子美”, often called himself “杜陵野老.” Later generations also call him “杜陵,” though he was from 河南巩县.
How should we understand all these different names for杜甫？🤗
The museum is small, nothing on the scale of Tokyo’s, but its curators have arranged the exhibits with great care. For me, it stood as a testament to how a company can honor its own cultural legacy. In that sense, Nissha ‘s efforts reminds me of Enschedé’s printing heritage in the Netherlands…6/
August 31, 2025 at 3:00 AM
The museum is small, nothing on the scale of Tokyo’s, but its curators have arranged the exhibits with great care. For me, it stood as a testament to how a company can honor its own cultural legacy. In that sense, Nissha ‘s efforts reminds me of Enschedé’s printing heritage in the Netherlands…6/
3. Nissha Museum of Printing History, Kyoto
I also discovered that Kyoto has another printing museum, run by company Nissha. Entry is by appointment, so I sent an email and got a reply immediately. The next day, I stond in front of the door of the Nissha Museum of Printing History. 4/
I also discovered that Kyoto has another printing museum, run by company Nissha. Entry is by appointment, so I sent an email and got a reply immediately. The next day, I stond in front of the door of the Nissha Museum of Printing History. 4/
August 31, 2025 at 3:00 AM
3. Nissha Museum of Printing History, Kyoto
I also discovered that Kyoto has another printing museum, run by company Nissha. Entry is by appointment, so I sent an email and got a reply immediately. The next day, I stond in front of the door of the Nissha Museum of Printing History. 4/
I also discovered that Kyoto has another printing museum, run by company Nissha. Entry is by appointment, so I sent an email and got a reply immediately. The next day, I stond in front of the door of the Nissha Museum of Printing History. 4/