Cai Lun

Revolutionized papermaking, enabling widespread knowledge dissemination

Cai Lun (蔡伦), a Chinese eunuch and official during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE), is widely credited with revolutionizing the process of papermaking. Before his innovations, writing materials such as bamboo slips, silk, and parchment were either cumbersome, expensive, or impractical for mass use. Cai Lun's invention of a method to create durable, lightweight paper from plant fibers like tree bark, hemp, and rags marked a turning point in human history.

His technique, developed around 105 CE, involved soaking, boiling, and pulping raw materials into a slurry, which was then pressed and dried into sheets. This innovation not only standardized paper production but also made it accessible for bureaucratic, educational, and cultural purposes. The spread of paper enabled the proliferation of literature, scientific texts, and administrative records across China and, eventually, the world via the Silk Road.

Cai Lun's contribution laid the foundation for the global exchange of ideas, fostering advancements in education, governance, and technology. Without his work, the Renaissance, printing press, and modern information age might have been delayed by centuries. His legacy endures as paper remains a cornerstone of human communication.