Abstract
This article discusses the historical and functional meanings of the technological transitions of character-composing for Chinese characters (katsuji), in terms of wooden movable types, lead movable types, phototype composing, and word processors. The word "katsuji" of Wan Zhen (1314) was used in conjunction with the word for metal movable type (1732) in the dictionary of the Chinese language edited by R. Morison (1822).This metal type composing was replaced with phototype composing, but phototype lost the movable function of type composing. This movable function was recovered by the word processor with Japanese "kana-kanji" conversion. Then, the DTP system replaced both metal type and phototype composing. The Wan Zhen-Gutenberg galaxy was completed with the introduction of digital word processors. Digital content made by the DTP system is utilized for many purposes: printed matter, digital books, magazines, and so forth. This situation shall probably continue into the future.
