Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Classics of Ancient Chinese Papermaking Technology

China is the hometown of papermaking.In ancient times, my country not only provided the technology, equipment and complete process system of papermaking to countries all over the world, but also provided rich literature records about papermaking technology.Among the numerous literature and classics in ancient my country, many are related to papermaking technology, and some are specialized works on papermaking.This type of original literature can be roughly divided into two categories: the first category is works on paper notation, and the second category is works on papermaking technology. As we all know, paper, ink, brush, and inkstone are known as the "Four Treasures of the Study" in ancient my country.Ancient literati paid great attention to and paid attention to the Four Treasures of the Study. After using and appreciating them, they often researched their origins, collected their allusions, and wrote books based on the Four Treasures of the Study.The Four Books of the Study written by Su Yijian, a Hanlin scholar in the Song Dynasty, is an early representative work on paper from the perspective of historical allusions.Since then, there have been more and more books about the Four Treasures of the Study, which also contain a considerable amount of information about papermaking technology.If it is said that paper, as one of the four treasures of the study, has aroused the interest of writers and archaeologists, then it can also be said that paper, as a handicraft product, has also aroused the interest of scientists and has become the object of their research.The Ming Dynasty scientist Song Yingxing's "Tiangong Kaiwu" in the "Fixing" volume is a representative work that discusses paper from a technical point of view.These two works have become a valuable source of literature for the study of the history of papermaking technology in my country.In the following, we will only introduce the contents of some representative and common works in the order of the writing time, for the reference of readers who are interested in the history of papermaking technology.

"Four Puzzles of the Study" was written by Su Yijian (958-996 A.D.), a native of Mianzhou (now Mianyang, Sichuan), from the Northern Song Dynasty.During the Song Taizong period, Jinshi was well-known for his articles. He was a retired official and Hanlin scholar, and he went in and out of the secret mansion to read all kinds of books and classics in it, and later wrote this book. The original book is in five volumes.Volume four is "Paper Spectrum", which is devoted to paper.According to the order of pen, inkstone, paper, and ink, the whole book is divided into four items: narration, production, miscellaneous remarks, and Ci Fu.Quoting ancient books, collecting miscellaneous stories and anecdotes, especially the stories the author heard and heard at the time, deserves our attention.Some of the books cited in it have been lost today, but they can still be found in other books.

Information about papermaking has been collected and organized as early as the Tang and Song Dynasties.For example, Yu Shinan (558-638 A.D.)'s "Beitang Shuchao" volume 104, Ouyang Xun (557-641 A.D.)'s "Yiwen Leiju" volume 58, Xu Jian (659-729 A.D.) )'s "Beginner's Notes" Volume 21, and Li Fang [Fang Fang] (AD 925-996)'s "Taiping Yulan" Volume 605, under the entry of paper, all collected paper history materials.These books are encyclopedia-style books, not special books on paper. A more comprehensive book on paper begins with Su Yijian's "Paper Book".The author pointed out in the book: "In the Han Dynasty, there was a bamboo slip made of banner paper ... until the emperor Yuanxing (year), the middle-aged attendant Cai Lunjian [cuo Cuo] used the cloth to fishnets and tree bark to make the bridge, just like Meng Tian had done before. There is a brush.” He believed that Cai Lun had already had paper, and Cai Lun’s era was just an improvement of papermaking technology, just like Meng Tian had a pen before.This conclusion was confirmed 1000 years later. In "Paper Spectrum", it is about how Yi [yiyi] and She (in today's Anhui Province) make huge fine paper, Jiangsu and Zhejiang use young bamboo as paper, Zhejiang people use wheat stems and rice straw to make paper, and Shu people make ten-color paper. These records are all novel materials provided by the author based on what he has heard and seen, which has important reference value for future generations to explore the origin of bamboo paper, straw paper, and straw paper.

After the publication of "Four Spectrums of the Study Room", although it was popular, it was not widely popular in later generations, and handed down copies are rare.This book was included in the "Zibu·Pulu" category of "Siku Quanshu" in the Qing Dynasty, and "Xuehaileibian·Jiyuliu" (with photocopies) in Daoguang's annual publication, but there are many mistakes and omissions.In the seventh year of Guangxu (AD 1881), when Lu Xinyuan included this book in the "Hundred Thousand Juan Lou Series", the text collation was carried out. In 1936, this book was included in "Series Integration · Preliminary Continuation · Applied Sciences". In 1941, Japan published the convenience book.

"Shu Jianpu" was written by Fei (about 1303-1363), whose birth and death dates are unknown, and was born in Huayang, Shu (now Sichuan) at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (the second half of the 14th century).A Jinshi and the first degree, he was later awarded as an assistant teacher of Guozi, and successively served as the visiting envoy of Hanzhong Lian and the general manager of Chongqing government. In 1362, when Ming Yuzhen sieged the city and established Daxia in Shu, he took refuge in Qianwei (now Leshan, Sichuan) and died. The first volume of "Shu Jian Pu" was written in Sichuan, and it was written in about 1360.As the name suggests, this book focuses on Shu Jian, with Suzhou Jian and Guangzhou Jian next to it.The book introduces Xie Shihou's ten-color notes and Xue Tao's little red notes in detail.It also talks about the history and types of Shu Jian.

This book has been included in "Continuation of Baichuan Xuehai Guiji", "Shuoyu" (Wanwei Shantang Edition) Volume 98, "Baoyantang Secret Book Suihuaji Lipu", "Art Series Three Collections Five" There is also an appendix in "Ink Sea Golden Pot·Shibu·Suihuaji Lipu" (Jiaqing version), and it is also attached at the end of "Scholar's Four Spectrum" which is a convenience book in Tokyo.The Beijing Library has an engraved Luqiu Bianyu edition in the Xiuye ​​Thatched Cottage of the Gu family during the Kangxi period, and the title of the book is "Paper Note Book".Later, in order to avoid confusion with Xian Yushu's "Zhi Jian Pu", it was called "Shu Jian Pu".The volume of "Paper and Jianpu" written by Xian Yushu, a calligrapher in the Yuan Dynasty, is a copy of the records about paper in ancient books, which is of little value.

"Ge Gu Yao Lun" was written by Cao Zhao (approximately 1354-1410 A.D.), styled Ming Zhong, who was born in Songjiang (now Songjiang, Jiangsu) in the Ming Dynasty.The book is basically a book about appreciating ancient utensils. There are 13 categories, including ancient bronzes, ancient paintings, ancient ink marks, ancient inscriptions, ancient qin, ancient inkstones, etc., and sub-categories, there are as many as thirty or forty items. There are also five or six articles for the few, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of ancient and modern utensils, and studying the origin and development of their allusions.There are discussions about paper in ancient paintings, ancient ink marks, ancient inscriptions, etc., and there are very vivid records of the types and origins of paper produced in Jiangxi, Zhejiang and other places during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.Therefore, the objects described in the book are complicated, and the content is inevitably omitted.Such as the ancient paper does not mention the Song Tibetan scripture paper.Therefore, the "Summary of Siku Quanshu" stated that "his book is nothing more than a self-expression, and it is considered to be a resource for later archaeology."

This book was completed in the 21st year of Hongwu in the early Ming Dynasty (AD 1388). After it came out, the style of the publication was different, and there were many mistakes in the text. Therefore, Wang Zuo (word Gongzai) from Jishui (now Jishui County, Jiangxi) wrote it in the seventh year of Jingtai. (AD 1456) was updated, and Tianshun three years (AD 1459) published a version called "Xin Xin Ge Gu Yao Lun".Cao's original book was included in "Yimen Guangdo", three volumes.Later, "Xiyinxuan Series" was included in 13 volumes based on the supplementary edition by Shu Min and Wang Zuo. In 1933, the Commercial Press re-arranged the "Series Collection" based on the "Xiyinxuan Series".

The author of "Kaopan Yushi" is Tu Long, whose style name is Changqing. The book consists of four volumes, miscellaneous about the play of the study room.Juan 1 talks about calligraphy, painting, qin and paper, Juan 3 and Juan 4 describe pens, inkstones, stoves, vases, utensils and clothing, all of which are related to paper.The book discusses the varieties, names, and places of origin of various precious papers in the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, and introduces the methods of making Cai paper, dyeing Song paper, dyeing paper for painting without glue, making beating white paper, and making gold. Technical methods such as the silver-printed paper method and the method of making pine-flowered paper are often cited by those who study the history of papermaking.

This book was originally included in "Secrets of Baoyantang" and "Secretary of Longwei". "Secretary of Longwei" was originally re-engraved by Tu Long's great-grandson Tu Jixu and others. After correction by Qian Daxin, it is better than the engraved version of Baoyan Tang, so "Series Collection" selected and printed Qian Daxin's proofreading.In addition, there is also a copy of "Small History of Jin Nang" engraved in the late Ming Dynasty. "Jiangxi Provincial Aspirations·Chu Shu" "Jiangxi Provincial Aspirations" was written by Wang Zongmu, whose style name was Xinfu, and was born in Linhai (now Linhai, Zhejiang).Jinshi of Jiajing, awarded the head of the Ministry of Punishment, promoted to the deputy envoy of Tixue in Jiangxi, successively served as the chief envoy of Shanxi, the governor of Water Transport, and the left servant of the Ministry of Punishment.In the thirty-fifth year of Jiajing (AD 1556), when he was a local official in Jiangxi, he wrote and compiled "Jiangxi Provincial Aspirations".

During the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Jiangxi was a famous papermaking and printing center in my country, so there are many books recording papermaking technology in Jiangxi. In "Jiangxi Provincial Aspirations", there is an article "Chu Shu", which was supplemented by Lu Wangai, and it specifically introduces Jiangxi's papermaking.The article first points out that during the Ming Hongwu (AD 1368-1398) and Yongle (AD 1403-1424) years, government bureaus were set up in Nanchang Prefecture and Guangxin Prefecture in Jiangxi Province to make paper.Then it lists the varieties and names of nearly 30 kinds of paper made from mulberry bark, rattan bark, and bamboo in Jiangxi at that time.Finally, the technology of making mulberry paper is described in detail.This is a relatively complete technical record of vellum papermaking in Jiangxi, which reflects the actual situation of Guangxin Prefecture and is of great value. "Tiangong Kaiwu" was written by Song Yingxing, a native of Fengxin, Jiangxi.He successively served as the Jiaoyu of Fenyi in Jiangxi, the Tuiguan of Tingzhou Prefecture in Fujian, and the magistrate of Nanzhibo (bobaru) Prefecture (now Haoxian County, Anhui). There are 18 volumes in the book, which systematically discuss the production technology of various sectors of agriculture and handicraft industry. Among them, the volume "Zhaqing" introduces the production process of bamboo paper and leather paper, with operation diagrams of production equipment.Regarding the manufacture of bamboo paper, it can be said to be the earliest systematic description. This book was written in Fenyiren, Ming Chongzhen ten years (AD 1637), with the help of his friend Tu Shaoying (zi Boju).Lin Yang Suqing, a book in the late Ming Dynasty, was engraved into a block-block edition, which was reprinted after revision in the early Qing Dynasty.In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was introduced to Japan, Korea and Europe, and attracted the attention of foreign science and technology circles. In 1771, reprinted editions appeared in Japan. In the first half of the 19th century, "Zha Qing" was translated into French and English.In foreign countries, it is recognized as an authoritative work on papermaking technology. In 1952, it was translated into Japanese again, and in 1966, it was translated into English again.At present, all foreign scholars who study the history of papermaking cite this work. Yan Ruyu (yu Yu) (1759-1826 A.D.), the author of "Three Provinces Frontier Defenses · Shanhuo", was born in Xupu (xuxu) Pu (now Xupu, Hunan) in the Qing Dynasty.He was the first in Fangzheng's department in the trial, was awarded the magistrate of the county, and tired of officials to Shaanxi as an inspector.This book was written and published in the second year of Daoguang (AD 1822), and it was reprinted in Lutang Collection in the tenth year of Daoguang (AD 1830).The so-called three provinces refer to Sichuan, Shaanxi and Hubei. The book has 14 volumes.Volume 10 introduces papermaking when talking about mountain products, mainly bamboo papermaking techniques in Yangxian, Dingyuan, Xixiang and other places in Shaanxi.In the book, the author emphasizes the necessity of choosing a factory site when setting up a paper factory, introduces the entire production process of bamboo paper in southern Shaanxi, and also reflects the employment situation in the paper factory in southern Shaanxi.According to the book, there are 140-150 paper mills in Xixiang, Dingyuan, and Yangxian alone. "Papermaking Theory" was written by Huang Xingsan (approximately 1850-1910 A.D.) in the Qing Dynasty.According to the author, this book is "Qiantang Huangxing passed through Changshan three times, and the people in the mountain did it (referring to papermaking), so they explained it in detail [zhi value] from the beginning to the end".The book records the technology of making bamboo paper in Changshan, Zhejiang at that time, but the technical details of the process are recorded very briefly.What it describes is basically the same as "Tiangong Kaiwu" and other books, but there are also some differences. For example, the item "exposing the sun" (that is, natural bleaching) is not found in "Tiangong Kaiwu".Some areas do have this process, the purpose is to bleach the paper by sunlight to enhance its whiteness. This book was included in Volume 5 of Yang Zhongxi's "Sequel to Xueqiao Poems" and Deng Zhicheng's "Complete Collection of Bone Dong Suo Ji". Liu Yueyun (1848-1917 A.D.), the author of "Gewu Zhongfa · Paper Genre", was born in Baoying (now Baoying, Jiangsu) in the Qing Dynasty. . The book has 24 volumes, which are divided into five elements, wood parts, creeps, ingenuity, and deification. It mainly quotes ancient books, and also includes the author's experience, and contains a lot of scientific historical materials.There is a column "Paper Genus" in Juan 6, which is dedicated to papermaking. In addition to citing some predecessors' works, it also quotes some local chronicles related to papermaking.It should be pointed out that some works cited in the book, such as Tiangong Kaiwu, were extremely rare at the time.Another example is "Guide to Creation", so far the original book cannot be found. "Gewu Zhongfa" was published in the tenth year of Tongzhi (AD 1871). "Paper Talk" was written by Hu Yunyu (1879-1947 A.D.), styled Pu'an, from Jingxian County, Anhui Province, born in the late Qing Dynasty.He referred to some historical documents and wrote the long "Paper Talk", which recorded the production method of Xuan paper produced in Jingxian County, Anhui and other places.Xuan paper is one of the famous papers in my country. Before the Qing Dynasty, few people talked about it. It was not until the 1920s that it was recorded by Master Hu Yun. "Paper Talk" is divided into ten parts: rectification of names, original materials, materials, detailed products, inspection styles, dyeing, identification, division of land, examination of craftsmanship, and stories.Attached: Paper Craftsmanship and Xuan Paper Theory.It is the most comprehensive work discussing paper since Su Yijian. It summarizes the materials accumulated before according to the traditional method, but it does not talk about the ancient paper excavated in Xinjiang, Gansu and other places in the early 20th century.In the appendix of the book "Xuan Paper Talk", the author describes the historical evolution of Xuan paper since the Tang Dynasty. Rice paper manufacturing process. The book is included in the third volume of the author's self-published anthology "Pu Xuezhai Series" in 1923. In my country's rich historical books, especially local chronicles and miscellaneous notes, there are also many materials about papermaking, which are not listed here due to space limitations.In addition, there are some works, such as "Jiaochuang Nine Records" written by Xiang Yuanbian (named Zijing, a famous calligraphy and painting collector) in the Ming Dynasty, which uses a large amount of paper at the front of the volume, and Wen Zhenheng's "Changwuzhi" in the Ming Dynasty, There is also the content of the paper, which is nothing new.So they are not introduced here. Since the 1930s, monographs recording traditional handmade papermaking techniques have gradually increased.For example, "Bamboo Papermaking Science" published by Luo Ji from Nanchang in 1935 comprehensively and detailedly described the production technology of lead mangosteen paper soil method in Jiangxi's famous paper production area, especially the author's success in using hollyhock mucus as paper medicine. experience. In the spring of 1935, Lin Chunhe, a native of Fujian, made a survey of various paper producing areas in Fujian, and recorded in detail the history of local papermaking, paper types, output, raw materials, equipment, and papermaking methods. In 1941, the survey report was published on Fujian bamboo paper, with illustrations, called "Fujian Paper".Another book similar to "Fujian Paper" is "Sichuan Handmade Paper Industry Investigation Report", edited by investigators Zhong Chongmin, Zhu Shouren, and Li Quan, and published in 1943. It mainly introduces the situation of handmade papermaking in various parts of Sichuan.In addition, there are survey reports on handmade papermaking in Yunnan and Zhejiang.These handmade papermaking investigation reports enable us to gain a lot of vivid perceptual knowledge and become important materials for studying the history of papermaking in my country. In addition to the above, during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing Dynasty (1736-1820 A.D.), 24 meticulous paintings drawn by folk painters imitating the methods of court painters were brought back to Europe by Westerners in China and are now in Germany.This group of paintings systematically depicts the bamboo paper making process, which is relatively rare. The German edition of Chinesische Papiermacherei im 18 Jahrhundertin Wortund Mild, published in Frankfurt, Germany in 1952, published black-and-white photos of these group paintings, with brief descriptions. In 1993, German Berlin Academy of Sciences Publishing House published a color photo edition with a research paper entitled "Chinese Bamboo Paper-making Illustrated in the 18th Century" (Chinesische Bambus papier stellung. Ein Bilderalbum aus dem 18 Jahrhundert).This batch of paintings and their technical content had an impact in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century.The author has also done research on these paintings, but few people in China have paid attention to this book.