Numerous archeological findings show that ancient Chinese invented plant fiber paper during the Western Han Dynasty based on long-time productive practice. Paper was made during the Western Han Dynasty during every emperor ’s regime and the years’ ranging from Wendi Emperor (180–157 B.C.) to the Xinmang Period (9–23 A.D.), has been unearthed. In 1986, ancient paper from 176–141 B.C. yellow, thin and soft with maps on it was unearthed in Fangmatan Han Tombs in Tianshui, Gansu Province. Gray and yellow paper with 50 words in 7 lines (written around 89–97 A.D.) was found in the Chake’ertie Hanfengsui Relic in the eastern bank of E’jina River, Gansu Province in 1942. The pale-yellow ancient paper, discovered in Tianshuijin Hanxuanquan Youyi Relic in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, was of refined texture with written words around 8–23 A.D. The discovery of the large quantity of Western Han paper proves that plant fiber paper existed in China in the 2nd century B.C.
The invention of plant fiber paper, which was convenient, inexpensive, light, soft and enduring, fundamentally changed the media used to record and spread knowledge and significantly promoted the publishing industry and society’s progress.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai Lun (about 63–121 A.D.) having innovated papermaking, presented the emperor with paper he made in 105 A.D., earning high praise. From then on, this kind of paper grew in popularity across the country and became known as “Caihou Paper,” named after the inventor. After that, paper, with the gradual improved technique and ever-lower costs, evolved as the most universal writing material of the time. Not until the 4th century A.D. did paper replace bamboo, wood slips, as well as silk and became the popular writing material of society.
The Evolution of Publishing
Marked with papermaking and printing techniques, the history of Chinese publishing can be divided into four stages: The bamboo inscription and silk manuscripts period from the establishment of Xia Dynasty (21st century B.C.) to the 2nd century B.C. (before the invention of papermaking); the manuscript book period from the 1st century B.C. to the 7th century A.D. (before the invention of printing); the manual printing period from the 7th century A.D. to 1840s (before the western printing machines came to China); and the mechanical printing period from 1840s to the early 1900s.
Since the 20 th century, Chinese publishing has officially entered the modern publishing period and has kept step with the growth trends of global publishing.
Bamboo inscription and silk manuscripts period (2100–200 B.C.)
During the period, Chinese publishing activities gradually became more mature and made a rapid progress in the type of writing materials used, compiling, copying and forming. With a bright feature of the times, Chinese publishing ultimately became a historical activity of developed its own systems.
In this period, the early evolution, Chinese characters, oracle bones, bronze inscriptions, seal scripts and clerical script phases, enormously strengthened the convenience of writing. Among the widely used writing materials such as bamboo and wood, oracle bones, bronze and stone as well as silk, bamboo and wood were used for a long time across the country and resulted in the early book form of bamboo and wood slips.
The number and length of Chinese books increased a lot as academic culture and the carriers of language developed. Books that could represent the essence of Chinese culture were written, such as the Classic of Changes, The Book of Poetry, Analects of Confucius, Lao Zi, Art of War of Sun Zi and Records of the Grand Historian. These, each thousands or tens of thousands words long, were written on bamboo and wood slips to hand down to generations.
Book collection activities were gradually expanded and the collection of books in government book agencies grew. Through a combination of compiling, arranging, writing, and classical collecting, government book agencies further perfected their function to act as government publishing agencies. A large quantity of government publications were published and distributed.
At the same time, academic development increased people’s need for books. Confucianism was honored as the national classics of the Han Dynasty, which excited society’s passion to pursue it. Soon after books appeared they began to spread. By means of transcription, borrowing and teaching, books became widespread.
Meanwhile, book transcribing became a special occupation and the trade evolved. With the bloom of the book business, Shusi, the earliest bookstore in Chinese history came into being in the capital city of Chang’an and other economically and culturally developed cities at the end of the 2nd century B.C.
China had had economic and cultural communication with its neighboring countries since the 3rd century B.C. At the time Buddhism and the classics were introduced into China and had a great influence on Chinese society.
Through long exploration, papermaking was invented in China in the 2nd century B.C. After that, paper, as well as bamboo and wood slips, was used as writing material. Not until the early 5th century did paper, by order of the emperor, totally replace bamboo and wood slips and became popular.
Manuscript book period (200 B.C.–700 A.D.)