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Han Dynasty Papermaking

Type Object Region China Time c. 105–500

A writing-surface technology developed in the Han dynasty involving pulping plant fibers, forming sheets, and drying them into pages;…

Timeline

  1. c. 1–100Guanzhong and the Central Plains · ChinaIn the late Western Han, rough paper made from hemp fibers already appeared, mostly used for packaging and padding, and had not yet replaced bamboo/wooden slips and silk as the mainstream writing medium.
  2. 105–121Imperial Workshops (Shangfang) in Luoyang · HenanCai Lun used bark, hemp ends, fishing nets, and rags as raw materials, producing paper of more uniform texture and lower cost through soaking, steaming, pounding, sheet-forming, and drying, and memorialized the court to promote its use.
  3. c. 120–220Central Plains and Jianghuai · ChinaPapermaking workshops expanded in the capital and the provinces; paper was gradually used for documents, books, and everyday writing, the use of bamboo and wooden slips declined, and paper became an important medium for the flow of information throughout the empire.
  4. c. 220–500Northern China and Jiangnan · ChinaBark paper, mixed raw materials, and processes such as sizing and coating gradually matured; papermaking rose in Jiangnan, paper quality and variety increased, and the technology spread to the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Sources