20-09-2017, 12:57 PM
Paper is a "wood" material that is mainly used for writing, first invented in ancient China. Although contemporary precursors such as papyrus and amate existed in the Mediterranean world and the pre-Columbian Americas, respectively, these materials are not defined as real paper. The first papermaking process was documented in China during the eastern Han period (25-220 CE), traditionally attributed to the official Cai Lun court. During the eighth century, Chinese papermaking spread to the Islamic world, where pulp mills and paper mills were used to make money. In the fifth century, papermaking was carried to medieval Europe. In the 456th century, paper mills that used water wheels appeared. Later Western improvements in the papermaking process came in the 19th century with the invention of wood-based papers.
Papermaking is one of the inventions of the Chinese. 105 A.D. is often cited as the year in which papermaking was invented. In that year, historical records show that the invention of the paper was reported to East Han emperor Ho-di by Ts'ai Lun, an official of the imperial court. Recent archaeological research, however, situates the actual invention of papermaking some 200 years earlier. Ts'ai Lun broke the bark of a mulberry tree into fibers and hit them on a leaf. It was later discovered that the quality of the paper could be greatly improved by the addition of hemp rags and old fishing nets to the pulp. Paper was soon widely used in China and spread to the rest of the world through the Silk Road. An official history written a few centuries later explained: In antiquity the writing was usually in bamboo or in pieces of silk, which were then called ji. But the silk was expensive and heavy of bamboo, these materials were not convenient. Then Tsai Lun thought of using tree bark, n hemp, rags and fishing nets. In 105 he made a report to the emperor in the papermaking process, and received high praise for his ability. From this moment the paper has been in use everywhere and is called the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
In a few years, the Chinese began to use writing paper. About 600 A.D. woodblock printing was invented and by 740 A.D., The first printed newspaper was seen in China.
To the east, papermaking moved to Korea, where paper production began as early as the sixth century AD. The pulp was prepared from the fibers of hemp, rattan, blackberry, bamboo, rice straw and seaweed. According to tradition, a Korean monk named Don-cho brought paper to Japan by sharing his knowledge in the Imperial Palace in about 610 AD, sixty years after Buddhism was introduced into Japan.
Along the Silk Road, we learn that the paper was introduced into the Xinjiang area very early according to archaeological records. The paper found in the sites of Kaochang, Loulan, Kusha, Kotan, and Dunhuang dates as early as the 2nd. century. The technique eventaully came to Tibet around 650 A.D. and then to India after 645 A.D. When Hsuan Tsang of China arrived in India in 671 A.D., paper was already widely used there.
For a long time the Chinese closely guarded the secrecy of paper-making and tried to eliminate other oriental production centers to secure a monopoly. However in 751 A.D. the T'ang army was defeated by the Ottoman Turks in a mighty battle on the Talas River. Some Chinese soldiers and paper-makers were captured and brought to Samarkand. The Arabs learned paper-making from Chinese prisoners and built the first paper industry in Baghdad in 793 A.D. Also, they kept it secret, and the Europeans did not learn to make paper until several centuries later. Egyptians learned paper-making from the Arabs during the early 10th century. Around 1100 A.D. paper arrived in North Africa and by 1150 A.D. arrived in Spain as a result of the Crusades and established the first paper industry in Europe. In 1453 A.D. Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press. The first paper industry in North America was built in Philadelphia in 1690.
Papermaking is one of the inventions of the Chinese. 105 A.D. is often cited as the year in which papermaking was invented. In that year, historical records show that the invention of the paper was reported to East Han emperor Ho-di by Ts'ai Lun, an official of the imperial court. Recent archaeological research, however, situates the actual invention of papermaking some 200 years earlier. Ts'ai Lun broke the bark of a mulberry tree into fibers and hit them on a leaf. It was later discovered that the quality of the paper could be greatly improved by the addition of hemp rags and old fishing nets to the pulp. Paper was soon widely used in China and spread to the rest of the world through the Silk Road. An official history written a few centuries later explained: In antiquity the writing was usually in bamboo or in pieces of silk, which were then called ji. But the silk was expensive and heavy of bamboo, these materials were not convenient. Then Tsai Lun thought of using tree bark, n hemp, rags and fishing nets. In 105 he made a report to the emperor in the papermaking process, and received high praise for his ability. From this moment the paper has been in use everywhere and is called the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
In a few years, the Chinese began to use writing paper. About 600 A.D. woodblock printing was invented and by 740 A.D., The first printed newspaper was seen in China.
To the east, papermaking moved to Korea, where paper production began as early as the sixth century AD. The pulp was prepared from the fibers of hemp, rattan, blackberry, bamboo, rice straw and seaweed. According to tradition, a Korean monk named Don-cho brought paper to Japan by sharing his knowledge in the Imperial Palace in about 610 AD, sixty years after Buddhism was introduced into Japan.
Along the Silk Road, we learn that the paper was introduced into the Xinjiang area very early according to archaeological records. The paper found in the sites of Kaochang, Loulan, Kusha, Kotan, and Dunhuang dates as early as the 2nd. century. The technique eventaully came to Tibet around 650 A.D. and then to India after 645 A.D. When Hsuan Tsang of China arrived in India in 671 A.D., paper was already widely used there.
For a long time the Chinese closely guarded the secrecy of paper-making and tried to eliminate other oriental production centers to secure a monopoly. However in 751 A.D. the T'ang army was defeated by the Ottoman Turks in a mighty battle on the Talas River. Some Chinese soldiers and paper-makers were captured and brought to Samarkand. The Arabs learned paper-making from Chinese prisoners and built the first paper industry in Baghdad in 793 A.D. Also, they kept it secret, and the Europeans did not learn to make paper until several centuries later. Egyptians learned paper-making from the Arabs during the early 10th century. Around 1100 A.D. paper arrived in North Africa and by 1150 A.D. arrived in Spain as a result of the Crusades and established the first paper industry in Europe. In 1453 A.D. Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press. The first paper industry in North America was built in Philadelphia in 1690.