Thousands of people in mourning dress moved slowly in a long
queue and waited silently to bid farewell to the remains of Wang
Xuan, inventor of the laser phototypesetting system for Chinese
characters.
At the mourning hall filled with wreaths and cypress, his
remains, draped with the national flag, lay serenely in a bed of
flowers.
Wang died of illness on February?13 in Beijing at the age
of 70. He was cremated Sunday at the Babaoshan Revolutionary
Cemetery in western Beijing.
Known nationally as the "Modern Bi Sheng," Wang invented
computerized laser photocomposition system for Chinese character
typesetting, telling the world that Chinese people could
independently realize the historic change from letterpress printing
to electronic publishing.
His invention is also described as the "second invention of the
printing system for Chinese character after Bi Sheng's invention of
movable clay type in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), which
ushered in a revolution in the history of printing.
"As long as you have read books and newspapers, you should
express appreciation to him, just as you should thank Thomas Edison
for his invention of electric light," a netizen said through
Internet in his way of paying respect to Wang, stressing "Your name
has been 'printed' in people's hearts."
On the day of Wang's cremation, senior Chinese leaders,
including Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin and Zeng Qinghong,
joined people from all walks of life to pay their last respects to
Wang Xuan.
Tearful mourners bowed solemnly in front of Wang's remains.
Wiping their tears, they stepped out of the hall unwillingly.
"He is much thinner," some senior people who had worked with
Wang Xuan sighed after seeing Wang's emaciated face. In fact, Wang
was not physically strong even when he was young. But he devoted
himself to scientific research and never gave it up even during his
illness. China's new printing technology recorded many stories of
his struggle against illness.
In August 1974, China launched the "748 project" to boost the
development of Chinese character processing. Wang was in charge of
the project.
Due to backward computer technologies and poor research
conditions at that time, Wang and his colleagues faced many
difficulties in developing the photo-typesetting system. Since
1985, the laser photo typesetting computer has been widely used in
China's printing.
The elegiac couplets wrote by Wang's wife read "You spent half
of your life in hard work and felt at ease for your whole
life."
"I have full confidence in our country's future, and China will
become a strong country in mid 21st century. I' go with no regret
because I have made due contributions to our country in my life,"
Wang's last words were quoted by his wife as saying.
In the picture of the deceased, the old man still wore the same
kindly look as being alive. "Though we never saw professor Wang
Xuan before with our own eyes, we came here not only for his
invention and contribution but for our admiration for his
personality," a young teacher from?Peking University said.
Wang was unassuming and amicable and helped young people with a
noble heart. In 2002, Wang spent his 9 million yuan (more than US$1
million) of bonus on building the "Wang Xuan Science Research Fund"
to support the research of the Computer Institute of?Peking University.
"The younger generation should surpass Wang Xuan and make a big
step forward," Wang said in his last words.
Mao Dexing, both classmate and colleague of Wang Xuan in Peking
University, came to pay last respect to his close friend. Mao was
choked with sobs and his tears rolled down from his wrinkled face.
He said "I believe Wang Xuan will continue his scientific research
even in another world."
?
(Xinhua News Agency February?20, 2006)