State of the World from NPR Looking Back: What a Long Lost Typewriter Says About Chinese Culture
Dec 30, 2025
Emily Feng, NPR's China correspondent, dives into the fascinating discovery of Lin Yutang's unique typewriter prototype, found in a New York basement. She shares how this artifact sheds light on the evolution of Chinese computing and the challenges of typing thousands of characters. The conversation explores Lin's vision for a cosmopolitan culture and the deeper implications of language on identity. Plus, the potential secrets hidden within the typewriter's ink spool tantalize listeners, hinting at Lin's final thoughts.
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The Basement Discovery That Solved A 20-Year Puzzle
- Stanford's Thomas Mullaney spent 20 years studying Chinese computing before the Ming Kui typewriter surfaced in a New York basement.
- He confirmed the found machine was Lin Yutang's unique prototype and examined it on Stanford's campus.
A Typewriter At The Crossroads Of Identity
- The typewriter's invention mirrored 20th-century debates over Chinese identity and modernization.
- Engineers sought ways to preserve Chinese script while joining the global technological shift.
A Costly Personal Gamble
- Lin Yutang invested heavily and nearly bankrupted himself building the Ming Kui, according to his granddaughter Jill Lye Miller.
- The machine was subsequently considered lost until its recent recovery.