Category：Rare Books Series
2026/02/26
DynaFont RareBook Fonts: DFRareBook-Ginkgo
Have you ever purchased chipped enamel painted porcelain from second-hand markets? The imperfections and aged appearances give the objects a unique charm filled with endless stories. The ancient text series was inspired by this kind of “renewal” and a reflection on the unvarying products in the age of technology. Is it okay for vector fonts to not be precise? In ancient times, the craftsmen still managed to create breathtaking engravings without the help of computers, so, why not?The designers of DynaFont searched high and low to collect different ancient texts, finally selecting five ancient books with the most elegant fonts from the National Palace Museum and the common people. These books were Siku Quanshu, Yuanfeng Leigao, Tang baijia Shixuan, Tiangong Kaiwu, and Fan Bozi Shiji. After five years of exquisite work, the characters of the ancient texts were developed into the five fonts of the “Ancient Text Fonts” series. These fonts were awarded the Japan Good Design Award for their historical value.
A classical temperament and the perfection of imperfection
The attentiveness of ancient carvers when sculpting each word and sentence applies to the designers at DynaFont when capturing strokes and reconstructing characters. The Ancient Text Font series preserves the old style created by sculptors hundreds of years ago. Each slight inaccuracy may be recognized as imperfections in today’s standard of digital fonts, but they are in fact traces of ancient crafts. The reading experiences of layouts are also preserved in each collection of books to present a classic style.DFRareBook-Ginkgo Immerse in a thousand-year-old ginkgo fores
The development of DFRareBook-Ginkgo font was based on the engraving of Tiangong Kaiwu by Song dynasty scientist Song Yingxing (1587-1663). The characters are tall and slim like ancient ginkgo forests, with delicate horizontal strokes that are as elegant as ginkgo leaves. DFRareBook-Ginkgo provides a reading experience as if gazing at the towering tall ginkgoes, definitely an aesthetic experience.
| ※About Tiangong Kaiwu Tiangong Kaiwu was first published in 1637. Although the author, Song Yingxing, was a successful candidate in the Imperial Examinations, he failed on five attempts in a row when participating in the exam in the capital. One day, he had a sudden realization that intellectuals spend years with their heads buried in books without ever knowing where the rice, grains, and fabric used in everyday life come from. Therefore, he stopped entering examinations and traveled the land to see the lives of ordinary people and to study techniques including rice planting, silk production, and smelting. Finally, with the help of a friend, Song Yingxing completed this comprehensive book on technology. Contents of the books cover topics of various skills and techniques that existed before the middle of the Ming Dynasty. After its publication, Tiangong Kaiwu spread to Japan and was widely cited and popularly received. |
The DFRareBook-Ginkgo font has a higher gravity level with a firm and stable design. The horizontal strokes end with semi-circular arcs like the leaves of ginkgoes. The left and right falling brushstrokes are applied with calmness, creating a delicate and graceful sensation.
▼Example of DFRareBook-Ginkgo:
The DFRareBook-Ginkgo is perfect for contents. Use vertical writing layout for the entire article to create a vintage engraving effect.