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The historical development of paper
For thousands of years, the ways in which humans record history and pass on culture have been constantly evolving. From the earliest knot-tying for record-keeping and the transmission of inscriptions on oracle bones, to the later inscriptions on bronze wares and stone drums, and then to the heavy bamboo slips and expensive silk, all these methods were once symbols of culture, but they were difficult to popularize due to their high cost and complexity. However, with the invention and popularization of papermaking, human knowledge and civilization ushered in a new chapter of rapid development. Next, let's explore the development history of paper together and experience the cultural transformation brought about by this great invention.
The origin of original paper
The discovery of Baqiao paper during the Western Han Dynasty marked the appearance of the earliest paper in China. However, its production process was simple and the fibers were intact, so it was not yet considered true paper. During the Western Han Dynasty, the earliest paper in China - Baqiao Paper - emerged. In 1957, when archaeologists were conducting excavations at the Baqiao Brick and Tile Factory in the eastern suburbs of Xi 'an, they unexpectedly discovered a subterranean tomb dating back to the period of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty. Surprisingly, not only were daily items such as mirrors unearthed from the tomb, but also precious cultural relics known as "Baqiao Paper" were discovered, marking the earliest appearance of paper in China during the Western Han Dynasty.
This primitive paper-making technique has a relatively simple production process, mainly using hemp and a small amount of ramie as raw materials, and going through procedures such as cutting, steaming, boiling, pounding and mashing. However, it lacks the "pulping" step, so the fibers remain intact and smooth, and can barely be called paper. However, it is similar to the papyrus of ancient Egypt and cannot yet be regarded as a true paper.
CAI Lun's papermaking technique
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, CAI Lun improved the papermaking technique, using cloth and fishing nets as raw materials to produce fine hemp paper, laying the foundation for the development of paper. Subsequently, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, CAI Lun made significant improvements to papermaking techniques. He ingeniously used cloth and fishing nets as raw materials to create linen paper that was fine in texture, of moderate thickness and had good toughness. The birth of this kind of paper marked the birth of paper in the true sense, bringing revolutionary changes to human writing and cultural dissemination.
Innovation occurred during the Jin Dynasty and the Northern and Southern Dynasties
During the Jin Dynasty, paper replaced bamboo slips as the main writing medium. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were various types of paper, with yellow, white and colored paper being widely used, which promoted cultural dissemination. At the end of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, paper gradually replaced the heavy bamboo slips and became the writing medium throughout the country. At this time, the ancients turned their attention to various colorful plants. After some exploration, they finally chose the seemingly ordinary Phellodendron amulets. Peel off the bark, dry it in the sun, boil it into yellow water, and then use this yellow water to dye the paper, and you can get yellow paper. Of course, you can also write on paper first and then dye it.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the paper industry flourished and paper mills were everywhere. At that time, there were mainly three types of paper in circulation on the market: One was yellow paper, which was dyed with phellodendron amurense and had a bright color; Another type is white paper, spotless and pure. Another type is colored paper, made from various plants, presenting a rich variety of patterns and colors. These papers were not only used for writing but also widely applied in painting, decoration and other fields, becoming an important witness to the cultural prosperity of that time.
Paper was diverse in the Tang Dynasty
During the Tang Dynasty, red "Xue Tao Notes" and various types of paper materials emerged, and papermaking techniques spread to different regions, promoting cultural exchanges. In the Tang Dynasty, the female poet Xue Tao made further progress. She attempted to apply red dye to paper and thus invented the red "Xue Tao Note". This innovation not only beautifies the writing experience but also adds new colors to the paper.
Meanwhile, with the continuous development of papermaking technology, the raw materials for paper have become increasingly diverse. In addition to hemp paper, bark paper, mulberry bark paper and rattan paper, there were also thin and tough sandalwood bark xuan paper, interlaced ray-scented bark paper and abundant bamboo paper. The emergence of these papers further promoted the prosperity and dissemination of culture.
In addition, the paper of this period also "went abroad" and was spread to all over the world through the Silk Road. Countries such as Uzbekistan, North Korea, Japan, India, Arabia and Egypt gradually acquired China's papermaking technology, which undoubtedly made an important contribution to ancient Chinese scientific and technological civilization.
The technological evolution of the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty
Bamboo paper was popular in the Song Dynasty, and bleached white paper became widespread in the Yuan Dynasty. Technological progress led to an increase in cultural demand. In the late Song Dynasty, bamboo paper had become the mainstream type of paper in the market, accounting for as high as 70% to 80%.
During the Yuan Dynasty, bleached white paper gradually became an important part of paper processing. At that time, people mainly used "clinker" for bleaching, and this "clinker" was actually lime. By mixing wood ash with quicklime and using the upper clear liquid produced to bleach paper, the whiteness of the paper can be enhanced.
The paper-making techniques of the Qing Dynasty
During the Qing Dynasty, dyeing and decorative techniques were innovative, with a wide variety of paper types and ingenious craftsmanship. During the Qing Dynasty, the paper-making process witnessed a new boom. During this period, innovative techniques such as dyeing, waxing, polishing, gilding, gold and silver spraying, and alum sizing emerged one after another, making paper present an unprecedented diversity. All kinds of famous papers such as memorial paper, list paper, small note paper and large note paper emerged in an endless stream. There were also precious varieties such as fine gold-sprinkled five-color powder note and five-color large curtain paper, as well as special papers such as gold-flower-printed five-color note, white note and bark paper. All these demonstrated the ingenuity of that era. In pursuit of a more magnificent visual effect, artisans ingeniously incorporate elements such as wax, gold foil, and silver foil into the paper, and at the same time use plate grinding and pressing techniques to create various exquisite patterns on the paper.
Papermaking innovation in the Industrial age
The modern Industrial Revolution in Europe revolutionized papermaking techniques and promoted the development of the modern papermaking industry by integrating local technologies. At the end of the 9th century, with the deepening of the European Industrial Revolution, the raw material of paper gradually shifted to mainly wood. The advancement of mechanical manufacturing technology has significantly improved the quality of wood fiber paper, which can even have a "lifespan" of up to 500 years. Meanwhile, the chemical pulping method of sulfate is widely applied in production. This method can effectively dissociate the fibers in the fiber raw materials, thereby enhancing the strength of the paper.
The paper we are most familiar with today originated from the papermaking revolution in Europe after its industrialization. Although China was the inventor of papermaking, this technology was later industrialized on a global scale. Paper, which had undergone industrialization overseas, eventually returned to China and combined with local technologies, jointly promoting the development of modern papermaking.
Modern papermaking technology is becoming increasingly complex. The paper produced not only has a smooth surface and is spotless white, but also can be made into special paper with various unique properties according to specific needs. Looking back at history, paper was a rare item that was out of reach for ordinary people thousands of years ago. However, nowadays it has been deeply integrated into our daily life and has become an indispensable part.
