cai lun

"Because the paper is totally natural, the ink goes well with the paper and the paper is durable and can be kept for as long as a thousand years."

One of the 'Four Great Inventions of China' is papermaking. In 105 A.D., Cai Lun invented the composition for paper (mainly bark and hemp), along with the papermaking process. This invention enabled China to develop its civilization. Today, ancient papermaking has been replaced by modern means of production, but in some places this ancient technique is still practiced. In 2007, the traditional way of papermaking was included in the first list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Shaanxi province. Unfortunately there's almost nobody left anymore who still practices this traditional way of hemp papermaking. It's simply vanishing... :( What a shame. Any volunteers?