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Song Dynasty Papermaking Industry

Type Object Region China Time c. 105

After maturing in the Han dynasty, Chinese papermaking grew into a large-scale handicraft industry through the Tang and Song.…

Timeline

  1. c. 105Luoyang · Henan ProvinceIn the Eastern Han, Cai Lun systematically improved the papermaking process using bark, hemp ends, and rags, gradually replacing bamboo slips and silk as the main writing medium.
  2. 700–1000Jiangnan papermaking region · JiangnanFrom the Tang dynasty, papermaking workshops concentrated in Jiangnan; the Song saw clearly divided sheet-forming and drying stages, with bamboo and bark paper used together, providing a steady paper supply for the printing industry.
  3. 1180–1189Lin'an Prefecture (Hangzhou) · Liangzhe CircuitAfter the Southern Song settled in Jiangnan, workshops in Lin'an, Liangzhe, and Fujian supplied paper to the court, academies, and bookshops; famous products like Chengxintang paper and Jinshushan sutra paper circulated, with quality and output reaching a peak.
  4. 1200East Asia · East AsiaAround the Song-Yuan transition, papermaking technology spread to the Korean peninsula and Japan via trade and envoys; materials and processes were localized, and traditional handmade paper techniques persisted even after modern mechanization.

Sources