Cost The Minimalist Modernization Of Mode

Shanghai’s modern stone lithography industry originated from Medhurst’s London Missionary Society Mission Press in the23th year of Daoguang, Qing Dynasty in1843, and formally started in Dianshi Press in the4th year of Guangxu in1978. It began to decline when imperial examination system was abolished in the31th year of Guangxu in1905and finally ended in1956’s private and public joint operation activities. Its development had past three dynasties, from the late Qing Dynasty, to the Republic, and People’s Republic of China. The inner logic connections of them were the modern characteristics of Shanghai’s stone lithography industry:comprehensive, private and profitability. As we know, letterpress printing technology and stone lithography technology were introduced to China approximately at the same time. Although some factors affected their comparably degree of strength, for example, variations of epoch feature, consumer preference and capital input, the technological factor was the decisive element of their competitive advantage over the hundred years. For the printing speed aspect, stone lithography was roughly the same with letterpress printing in the late Qing Dynasty until the Public Dynasty. Before the application of photographic technology, stone lithography only had two printing ways-anti-calligraphy and transfer calligraphy, which was obviously less convenience than the letterpress printing.Yet, after introducing photographic technology to stone lithography, its platemaking speed had exceeded letterpress printing. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the20th century, letterpress printing introduced some advanced duplicate technologies such as advanced typefounding machine which greatly increased the quantity of Chinese matrixes. Therefore, it made letterpress printing keeping competitive advantage against stone lithography.Shanghai’s modern stone lithography industry was made up of numerous middle or small scale stone lithography presses. And Shanghai lithography association (shuyegongsuo) was the traditional press industry guide organization which dealt with competition, conflicts and mutual interest affairs. Moreover, the lithography business group which was composed by Shanghai lithography association members was the first business group among all every walk of life in Shanghai.During the Republic Dynasty, Shanghai’s modern stone lithography industry broke out many strikes, but with the coordination of Shanghai lithography association, most of them were solved peacefully.The contents of Shanghai’s modern stone lithography were very wide which included western literature, economic, history, medicine, divination, astrology, novels, celebrities’personal letters, folktales, fiddle ballads, lyrics and so on.It could be said that in modern Shanghai, stone lithography books were broadly circulated among all classes of people. In the strong transformation tide of modern China, mainly two reform types existed in printing industry. The first one was a radical reform, for instance, the letterpress printing industry. Strong finance support, broad intellectuals’participation, continuous technology and operation innovations all had made great contributions to its leadership in the industry. The other one was a subtle reform, as the stone lithography industry. Once it was the leader, but as time changing, its industry profit margin declined significantly and to make it worse, it lacked the favor of social superior resources. Consequently, it had no choice but to take subtle reform. After the imperial examination system was abolished, it could only gradually transform forced by times with limited capital. Under this limited input capital situation, it had taken various tough reforms. For instance, using steam or electrical energy, establishing industry association, expanding sales to other cities or even overseas, changing partnership into joint-stock were all good proofs.