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In the early days of paper-making, the main materials for paper-making were tree bark and rags. At the latest in the early Western Han Dynasty in the 2nd century BC, the paper was introduced in China.
The original paper was produced by hemp fiber or hemp fabric. As paper-making is still in its infancy and the process is simple, the paper produced is rough and has many loose fiber bundles. The surface is unsmooth. It is unsuitable for writing and is generally only used for packaging.
Figure: Fragments of Cai Hou paperSource: SOHU
Eastern Han Dynasty
Eastern Han Dynasty
Cai Lun has improved the process of paper-making and has contributed to the improvement of the paper-making process without fully inventing it. He allegedly created a sheet of paper using mulberry, worn fishnet, bark, cloth and other plant fibers. These raw materials could be easily found at a much lower cost so large quantities of paper could be produced.
Figure: Ba Qiao Zhi of Eastern Han dynastySource: Saunaguide88
Figure: Eastern Han paperSource: KKNews
Figure: Xibei Can ZhiSource: BIG CHINA
Figure: Lou Lan Chan Zhi (Lou Lan Paper)Source: China.com
Figure: Comparison of Cai zhi and Kongshizhong tieSource: KKNEWS
South Jin Dynasty
South Jin Dynasty
People started to use rattan for paper-making. Paper can form in a different color and several usages by using rattan (e.g. Yellow rattan paper are used for punishment edict).
Later, the emperor has moved their capital from Loyang (洛陽) to Pianan (偏安), the demand of paper has increased. Wooden slip gradually replaced by the paper book. In order to last the paper for longer, people coated the paper with glue for the pest control.
Figure : The Diamond Sutra of the Chinese Tang DynastySource: Wikiwand
Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
People started using bamboo for paper-making in the Tang dynasty. It marked a significant breakthrough in paper-making technology. The fiber of bamboo is hard, brittle and easy to break, which is difficult to deal with technically. The success of paper-making with bamboo indicates that the ancient paper-making technology in China has reached a fairly mature level. The quality of the paper produced is getting higher and higher, and there are more and more varieties. Due to the stable political situation and economic development, paper-making in Tang is well developed, which they often use the best quality of paper for copying and examination.
Figure: Xie jing zhi of Tang dynastySource: Chiculture
Figure: Du Mu poem paper collection of Tang dynastySource: Love Pea Blog
Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
Figure: First government official banknote of Song dynastySource: KKNEWS
Figure: Song dynasty Paper armourSource: QQ NEWS
Printing technology became popular in the Song dynasty, the demand for the paper had increased. It encourage the development of paper-making.
The Song dynasty was the world's first official government in history to issue the banknote such as Jiaozi (交子) and Huizi(會子).
Moreover, paper armour was one of the weapon of army in Song dynasty. Paper armour was made by silk paper and functioned as a defend, worn under other armour or by itself.
Furthermore, the Song government officials who had done excellent service to the government were rewarded by the court with presents of paper-printed money wrapped in paper envelopes.
Reference: Ebrey, Walthall, Palais, (2006). East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cover Picture: Helen, H. (2018). [Painting of paper making]. A Beginner's Guide to Making your Own Paper. Retrieved from https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-crash-course-basic-papermaking
Wikipedia. (n.d.). [Animation of Five seminal steps in ancient Chinese papermaking outlined in a woodcut. ] Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papermaking
Needham, J. & Ling, W. (1965). Science and Civilisation in China Volume 4 Physics and Physical Technology Part 1: Physics (pp. 122). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Needham, J. & Ling, W. (1965). Science and Civilisation in China Volume 4 Physics and Physical Technology Part 1: Physics (pp. 1). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wikiwand. (n.d.). [Photograph of The Diamond Sutra of the Chinese Tang Dynasty]. Retrieved March 24, 2020 from https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Tang_dynasty
SOHU. (2018)[Photograph of Fragments of Cai Hou paper] . Zhi zai xihan bian yi faming, zai donghan de yi gai jing, weihe dangshi de renmen haishi yong zhujian ? _ zhi zhang. Retrieved from https://www.sohu.com/a/285254629_407132
Saungaguide88. (n.d.). [Photograph of Ba Qiao Zhi of Eastern Han dynasty] Zhao zhi zao zai xi han yi you wei he hai chang shi jian shi yong zhu jian ?. Retrieved from http://www.saunaguide88.com/forum/redirect.php?tid=165624&goto=lastpost
KKNews. (2019). [photograph of Eastern Han paper]「Yi hai shi zhen 」lanzhou zui zao de shufa moji. Retrieved form https://kknews.cc/culture/2ybk659.html
KKNews. (2018). [photograph of Comparison of Cai zhi and Kongshizhong tie] Lou lan chu tu × xi jin shi liu jian zhi shu ji yan jiu. Retrieved form https://kknews.cc/history/ar89vzg.html QQ News. (2019). [photograph of Song dynasty Paper armour] Ci kui jia zhi da zao que dao qiang bu ru, zai song chao guang fan shi yong ,dao le qing chao yi ran liu xing. Retrieved, from https://new.qq.com/omn/20190515/20190515A0MA7B.html
KKNews. ( 2017). [Photograph of First government official banknote of Song dynasty] Shi jie shang zui de zhi bi ，wei da song da zhao le yi ge pang da de shang ye di guo. Retrieved form https://kknews.cc/culture/mmqog66.html
Love Pea Blog. (n.d.). [Photograph of Du Mu poem paper collection of Tang dynasty] Tang dai Du Mu zhnag haohao shi zhi ben. Retrieved from http://blog.gxnews.com.cn/u/830267/a/1102309.html
Chiculture. (n.d.)[photograph of Xie jing zhi of Tang dynasty]. Retrieved from https://www.chiculture.net/0815/html/0815c05apop.html
Cover Picture: Helen, H. (2018). [Painting of paper making]. A Beginner's Guide to Making your Own Paper. Retrieved from https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-crash-course-basic-papermaking
Wikipedia. (n.d.). [Animation of Five seminal steps in ancient Chinese papermaking outlined in a woodcut. ] Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papermaking
Needham, J. & Ling, W. (1965). Science and Civilisation in China Volume 4 Physics and Physical Technology Part 1: Physics (pp. 122). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Needham, J. & Ling, W. (1965). Science and Civilisation in China Volume 4 Physics and Physical Technology Part 1: Physics (pp. 1). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wikiwand. (n.d.). [Photograph of The Diamond Sutra of the Chinese Tang Dynasty]. Retrieved March 24, 2020 from https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Tang_dynasty
SOHU. (2018)[Photograph of Fragments of Cai Hou paper] . Zhi zai xihan bian yi faming, zai donghan de yi gai jing, weihe dangshi de renmen haishi yong zhujian ? _ zhi zhang. Retrieved from https://www.sohu.com/a/285254629_407132
Saungaguide88. (n.d.). [Photograph of Ba Qiao Zhi of Eastern Han dynasty] Zhao zhi zao zai xi han yi you wei he hai chang shi jian shi yong zhu jian ?. Retrieved from http://www.saunaguide88.com/forum/redirect.php?tid=165624&goto=lastpost
KKNews. (2019). [photograph of Eastern Han paper]「Yi hai shi zhen 」lanzhou zui zao de shufa moji. Retrieved form https://kknews.cc/culture/2ybk659.html
KKNews. (2018). [photograph of Comparison of Cai zhi and Kongshizhong tie] Lou lan chu tu × xi jin shi liu jian zhi shu ji yan jiu. Retrieved form https://kknews.cc/history/ar89vzg.html QQ News. (2019). [photograph of Song dynasty Paper armour] Ci kui jia zhi da zao que dao qiang bu ru, zai song chao guang fan shi yong ,dao le qing chao yi ran liu xing. Retrieved, from https://new.qq.com/omn/20190515/20190515A0MA7B.html
KKNews. ( 2017). [Photograph of First government official banknote of Song dynasty] Shi jie shang zui de zhi bi ，wei da song da zhao le yi ge pang da de shang ye di guo. Retrieved form https://kknews.cc/culture/mmqog66.html
Love Pea Blog. (n.d.). [Photograph of Du Mu poem paper collection of Tang dynasty] Tang dai Du Mu zhnag haohao shi zhi ben. Retrieved from http://blog.gxnews.com.cn/u/830267/a/1102309.html
Chiculture. (n.d.)[photograph of Xie jing zhi of Tang dynasty]. Retrieved from https://www.chiculture.net/0815/html/0815c05apop.html
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