第1个回答 2024-05-11
Papermaking, one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China, emerged during the Western Han Dynasty and was later refined during the Eastern Han Dynasty. China holds the distinction of being the first country to cultivate silkworms and weave silk, a practice that predates other civilizations.
In ancient China, the common people transformed silk from the finest cocoons, while the inferior and damaged cocoons were processed into silk floss. This involved an intricate process where flocks of silk fibers were separated and allowed to settle on bamboo mats.
With repeated floating, the accumulated silk fibers on the mats formed a layer of fiber sheets, which could be peeled off and dried for writing purposes. The by-products of this process were minimal, and they were referred to as "Hefu" or "Fangxu" in ancient texts.
It was during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 8 CE) that paper was first produced in China. The technique was further improved by蔡伦 during the Eastern Han Dynasty in the year 105 CE.蔡伦's innovation involved using materials such as bark, straw, old rags, and fishnets, which were processed through a series of steps including beating, pulping, cooking, and drying. This marked a significant advancement in paper production, as the new material was more accessible, affordable, and of better quality, leading to its widespread use. In recognition of蔡伦's contributions, this type of paper came to be known as "Caihou Paper."
Paper is a product of the long-standing ingenuity and experience of the Chinese laboring class. It is a sheet-like fibrous material used for writing, printing, painting, or packaging. Typically, it is made from a water suspension of processed plant fibers that are randomly interlaced on a screen, partially dehydrated, and then compressed and dried. China is credited with being the first to invent paper globally. Archaeological evidence reveals that by the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 8 CE), China was producing coarse, expensive, and scarce hemp-fiber paper.