Book Binding: Unique Art

Books that disseminate knowledge have different tasks because they carry different books. They have obvious timeliness, publicity, notice, and even one-off. Therefore, the requirements for binding are relatively simple; for most people, they have the task of accumulating knowledge and accumulating cultural tasks. In terms of books, the pros and cons of its framing are crucial. This article mainly discusses the latter type of book binding.

Mr. Lu Xun pointed out in his early years that book binding is an independent art of painting and emphasizes the decorative effect of binding on books. In my opinion, if we take into account the changing factors of design concepts, layout images, decorative materials, book modelling, and printing and binding processes, we can say that book binding is not only a painting art, but also a kind of painting art. Unique works of art; works of art associated with specific cultural content; book binding is a kind of binding culture. Since it is a work of art, it must follow the rules of art aesthetics to judge and pursue. I think that along with the development of society and economy, there are high-grade and even some luxurious book covers. This is an expression of the art of book decoration and its artistic charm. This is progress and development. It is understandable and worthless. The reason is:

First, the elegant book is a reflection of the ever-increasing level of science and technology in China's printing process and equipment. Recalling the history of the development of books in China, printing from the engraving, type, lithograph, printing, Chinese version, porcelain version until the modern computer phototype and color printing; binding from bamboo, silk, butterfly, reel, thread, 裱The equipment, until the modern hardcover, soft hardcover, bronzing and so on, each technological advance has brought a qualitative leap to the book. What kind of science and technology level, what kind of book is produced, this is the inevitable development.

Second, different book sets reflect different flavors of the times. For example, the Qing Dynasty's "Dianban Book" was approved by the emperor. Natural engraving does not jeopardize the cost of the work. "Qingshan Hangshui, Qing Shi Hang Hang Noodle". This type of book dress highlights the royal style everywhere. On the eve of liberation, the bookstores of the Kuomintang's government-run bookstores used more red, which is exactly a psychological reflection of the fear of the revolution. Today, some children's books carry sounds and even scent. Many books and books, books, and bookmarks are used to advertise. These books are a reflection of the breath of the times.

Third, different books, reflecting the value of different versions. A particular book is an important constitution and logo of different versions. Sometimes books are bought for a specific version of the book, and the book dress undoubtedly occupies a very important ingredient. The exquisite book-reading also has the value of displaying and viewing. The National Library of Beijing has a "great book counter", which is a book with extremely binding frames. Many people have bookcases in their homes, and they enjoy sitting in bookstores for pleasure. Believe that they want to display, it is also bound to be mostly book exquisite and beautiful book.

Fourth, some books have the value of collection and even value-added. Not only rare books, rare books, early editions, famous signature books, miniature books, special editions, limited edition books, etc. are of collectable value, and those books with exquisite masterpieces, reference books, and series books are often bought and collected. There are many people in the West who regard the collection of fine books as a romantic mood. The main motive for them to buy books is not to read, but to be enchanted by the book. In the developed countries, books collection and auction have become a very promising industry. There are professional book collectors, connoisseurs, and brokers, as well as a wide variety of book collections and periodical auctions. In this regard, we are a bit lagging behind, but it is undoubted that we should improve the book to meet the needs of the collection.

Fifth, gifts gifts have become a kind of fashion for today's book consumption. With the development of society and economy, the tradition of people giving gifts is constantly evolving. Gifts have gradually evolved from practical ones of earlier years to knowledge-based, elegant-type, appreciation-type, and treasure-collection-type. In particular, in recent years, many people have no longer given gifts such as tobacco, alcohol and food, and instead replaced them with flowers and beautiful books. In this way, a batch of well-received New Year's Book, He Jie Book, Xiao King's Book, and a corporate public relations book came into being and became a hot spot for the book market. There are many kinds of motives for using the gift book, and it is also difficult to avoid having some kind of self-interest. This is another topic and it is not discussed in this article. But one thing is to conclude that most of these books are not used to read on their own, but are used to communicate emotions and express one's intentions. Of course, they require that the book be loaded with grades and style. As a result, special gift books appeared for gifts. In fact, books and gifts have long since existed in ancient and modern China. When Joyce, the author of Ulysses, published his book in 1939 as the first edition of “The Finnegen Wraith”, it was clearly not for sale. It was only used to present relatives and friends, and the gift edition was later worth a hundredfold. It is also pointed out that leaders of various countries often use fine books as gifts to foreign guests. Far away, when Russia celebrated the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg last month, President Putin will be the masterpiece of the “Saint Petersburg 1703-2003” that he personally prefaced as a gift to the heads of state participating in the celebration. The book is extremely well-trimmed, gilded, bookmarked with three-color ribbons, inlaid with the emblem of the city and Putin's portrait, each book with a weight of 10 kilograms. This shows the value and role of the gift book.

Some people may say that the book focuses on the content, but it is only a "booksuit" and a wrapper. It can't be put aside. This is not the case. Imagine being dressed to protect the body from cold. Of course, if you only ask for it, you will be clothed and clothed. How come today is a variety of fashion that is dazzling today? It can be seen that fashion is good, high-grade book is good, and their appearance is a progress of civilization and a sublimation of aesthetic taste. As long as we have this strength, we will try our best to make the decoration of valuable books more sophisticated, and why do we have to be demanding?

Related Links

Sometimes readers appreciate and buy a book not because of the content of the book but because of the beauty of the version. Many literati such as Lu Xun, Ye Shengtao, Wen Yiduo, Hu Feng, and Ba Jin had personally participated in the bookbinding work; Bian Zhilin also introduced the French artistic style to the binding design at the time. The literati's participation in the design of the new literary version is a major feature of the history of Chinese bookbinding art.

(Jiang Deming: New Literature Version, December 2002)

After Mr. Ba Jin received the hardcover copy of Random Thoughts, he was glad to give Fan the letter: "It is the first-rate paper, the first-rate binding! It is you who have brought me this difficult book with brilliant lights. Introducing the 'civilization' book market."

(Applied: "Literature on Literature and Bindings and Illustrations" January 2003)

Some publishers in the United States, for some famous books, often have only 26 special editions for the first edition, and they are numbered in 26 alphabetical letters. The purpose is for future auction collections. The early version of the American wild poet Eliot "The Waste Land", the auction price has increased to 1,500 US dollars. In book auctions, framing is flawless and perfect, and sometimes the price is a few times or even several-fold.

(Zheng Shusen: "The article has a priceless book")

Today’s important book collections, auctions, and book price assessment publications in the United States include “Book Collectors,” “Book Auction Records,” “Contemporary Book Prices,” “Readers Weekly,” “Readers' Annual Review,” “Stolash, and Hefner.” Book News etc.

(Zheng Shusen: "The article has a priceless book")

Source: Information of Chinese Culture: Li Jing end