Cai Lun | Biography, Paper, & Facts - Encyclopedia Britannica

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Cai Lun Chinese inventor Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: Jingzhong, Ts’ai Lun Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 1, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

Cai Lun (born 62? ce, Guiyang [now Leiyang, in present-day Hunan province], China—died 121, China) was a Chinese court official who is traditionally credited with the invention of paper.

Cai Lun was a eunuch who entered the service of the imperial palace in 75 ce and was made chief eunuch under the emperor Hedi (reigned 88–105/106) of the Dong (Eastern) Han dynasty in the year 89. About the year 105 Cai conceived the idea of forming sheets of paper from the macerated bark of trees, hemp waste, old rags, and fishnets. The paper thus obtained was found to be superior in writing quality to cloth made of pure silk (the principal writing surface of the time), as well as being much less expensive to produce and having more abundant sources.

Quick Facts Wade-Giles romanization: Ts’ai Lun (Show more) Courtesy name (zi): Jingzhong (Show more) Born: 62? ce, Guiyang [now Leiyang, in present-day Hunan province], China (Show more) Died: 121, China (Show more) See all related content

Cai reported his discovery to the emperor, who commended him for it. Important improvements were subsequently made to Cai’s papermaking process by his apprentice, Zuo Bo, and the process was rapidly adopted throughout China, from which it eventually spread to the rest of the world. Cai himself was named a marquess in 114.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.