絮纸和蔡伦——答青年学者段纪纲、雷玉德

Floc paper and Cai Lun

《说文解字》等考据“纸”确实起源于至少战国时期的蚕茧缫丝业 ,西汉“纸”充其量是自然麻絮纸。然各类絮纸均无法代替简帛 ,只有东汉蔡伦的捣浆法才使纸业达到批量化、社会化的程度 。

According to Analytical Dictionary of Characters and other classics, “paper” originates from the cocoon silk reeling industry during the Warring Period, whereas the “paper” of West Han dynasty is no more than just natural floc paper from fiber crops. None of the floc paper, however, could replace bamboo slips or silks for writing on. It is Cai Luns method of pulping that promoted paper making into a stage of mass production and socialization.