关于蔡伦及中国“造纸术”起源的探讨

Investigation of Cai Lun and the origin of papermaking art in China

造纸术是我国古代四大发明之一。公元105年,东汉蔡伦首创造纸术的光辉业绩,早已经载入史册。为推动人类历史文明的发展做出了巨大的贡献。蔡伦发明造纸术之前,中国有没有纸?这些问题在历史上有过争论。70年代,随着考古的不断发掘,从西汉古墓、窑藏、垃圾堆中出现一些"古纸片状物",引起是造纸界一些同志参与争论。蔡伦发明造纸术,其基本原理一直沿用至今。不论历史上,或是现在有些人称蔡伦不是造纸术的发明家,而是改革家,不同见解总是允许的,我认为有的人是因对絮纸与植物纸的定义没搞清楚;有的对西汉古墓或其它地方发掘类似纸状物的实物而认为是纸,就将纸的发明提前到西汉,这几起西汉纸状物经我们鉴定,无一件可以以纸论处。因此蔡伦发明造纸术是功不可没的发明家。

Papermaking is one of the four great inventions of ancient China.Cai Lun's glorious achievements on papermaking have already been recorded in history,which has made great contribution to the development of Human civilization.Before Cai Lun invented papermaking skill,was there paper in China? All these issues had been controversial in history.In the seventies,the issue was caused originally by the constant archaeological excavations.Archaeologist found some'ancient pieces of paper'from the Western Han tombs,kilns and rubbish heaps.This controversy is characterized by involvement of some comrades from paper industry.Cai Lun invented papermaking,the basic principle still in use.Regardless of history or the present,some claimed Cai Lun was isn't the inventor of papermaking,but the reformers.I think some people don't have clear definitions about the cotton wadding paper and paper plants.Some researchers consider the material object founded in the Western Han Dynasty tombs or other places are paper,and then consider the invention of paper existed in the Western Han Dynasty.These material object from the Western Han Dynasty of paper were identified by us,and none of them was qualified paper.Therefore,Cai Lun performed meritorious deeds never to be obliterated on the papermaking.