This research mainly focused on the Dikan edition of “Jiaxing Tripitaka”, a collection of 401 engraved rare books from the Wangli period of the Ming Dynasty to the early stage of the Qing Dynasty listed in the category of Zi-Bu-Shi-Jia-Lei and collected by the National Central Library, and “Hongjiao Tripitaka,” a 470 lead-character-printed rare books from the period between the 14th and the 18th year of the Meiji Dynasty in Japan listed in the category of Zi-Bu-Shi-Jia-Lei-Jin-Lu- Lun- Shu and collected by the National Palace Museum. This research was conducted through document comparison. Main structure of this research utilizes Editorial design concept from modern design as a starting point and, with the support of achievements from related fields of “Edition Study” as its basis, explores universal characteristics in the forms of typeface at that time through actual observation, organization, Comparison and documentation. Research methods mainly focus on actual investigations. They verify and compare word characters presented in books at that time using Yong Tze Eight-Stroke Methodology as well as Han Tze basic strokes and structures for the purpose of a clear understanding of differences. In the meantime, they also explore differences and similarities among research subjects’ respective editing elements from the perspective of modern editing and design principles in order to verify editing characteristics. Research results find characteristics in typeface and editing as follows: 1.Typefaces of “Jiaxing Tripitaka” and “Hongjiao Tripitaka” both come with characteristics of obvious thin horizontal strokes and thickened vertical strokes. 2.Yao (hook) strokes in most engraved words of“Jiaxing Tripitaka” obviously still preserve arc shape which exists in penmanship words. “Hongjiao Tripitaka” was made through brass casting and therefore shapes of its Yao (hook) strokes are relatively more clear-cut. These strokes are connected by straight slanted lines and they come with the prototype of modern day Ming Typeface. 3.Most of Jiaxing Tripitaka’s side bars are in the form of “surrounding dual bars,” while the ones for Hongjiao Tripitaka are all in the form of “surrounding dual bars.” 4.Bookmark of “Jiaxing Tripitaka” and “Hongjiao Tripitaka” both come with similar to copyright page of modern day books. 5.Existence of “Jiaxing Tripitaka” and “Hongjiao Tripitaka” both come with Sutras print.
