Han Dynasty Invention

Invention of Paper

Paper for the Chinese was an art, it let them write down everything because it was cheap and the paper could be traded across the Silk Road to create wealth and new ideas. It has even transferred ideas to us, almost 1900 years later. Paper was the greatest accomplishment in Chinese history.

"Paper was used as the tool for recording the important events and data. Before the invention of paper, the turtle shell, animal bone, golden stone, bamboo slips, wood and cloth were used for recording and remembering things"(history-of-china). The Invention of paper was a large step from the use of less dependable materials. With this new invention people were able to record everything that they knew, whether it be knowledge, religion or mathematics at the time.

“The supply of cheap paper meant that great thoughts could be written on the paper and read by people. Advanced and new ideas could be passed quickly and widely to the majority of people. It has promoted and quickened the steps of human civilization and development” (history-of-china). Since paper was cheap and was easy to write on, more ideas seemed to be put down and moved. New ideas could be passed anywhere, through the Silk Road, across the village and even to the other side of China. The expense of paper was a key factor in having some of the ideas that we have now.

“Invention of the paper has enriched the culture and literature. More and more great works were produced and passed to the majority of people” (history-of-china).