How Ancient China Invented Paper—and Changed the World FOREVER!

💥Discount on Shen Yun tickets: https://www.shenyun.com USE CODE: LCN2025 💥Shen Yun Creations: https://sypa.us/chinese-jared 00:00 - Intro 00:43 - Before paper 01:31 - Cai Lun invents paper 02:57 - Original paper 04:14 - Paper spreads to the world 04:37 - Paper cup 05:40 - Money 06:41 - Toilet paper 08:57 - Conclusion The invention of paper, a cornerstone of modern civilization, originated in ancient China, dramatically shaping history. While Cai Lun, a Han dynasty court official, is credited with developing an affordable and sustainable papermaking process in 105 AD using tree bark, plant fibers, and hemp waste, evidence suggests paper existed even earlier. A scrap of paper dated to 179 BC, found in a tomb in 2006, along with other discoveries, indicates that paper predated Cai Lun by over two centuries. His true innovation was making papermaking practical and economical, sparking widespread use and further advancements in materials and quality. China’s head start in papermaking gave it a thousand-year lead over the rest of the world. The technology spread via the Silk Road to the Middle East by 700 AD and Europe by 1100 AD. This breakthrough fueled a wave of Chinese innovations, including paper cups during the Tang dynasty—made with thick, wax-coated paper for water resistance—and the world’s first paper money, born from merchants’ need for a lighter alternative to coins. The Song dynasty later formalized paper currency in the 1120s using woodblock printing, another Chinese invention. Perhaps most strikingly, China pioneered toilet paper, with references dating back to 589 AD during the Sui dynasty. By the 1300s, production was massive, including specially perfumed sheets for the imperial court, while the rest of the world lagged centuries behind. From tax records to toiletries, China’s paper innovations—starting with turning tree bark into a versatile resource—laid the foundation for the modern world, influencing everything from disposable cups to napkins. Subscribe to Learn Chinese Now: http://www.youtube.com/learnchinesenow Jared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MCJaredMadsen Jared on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcjaredmadsen/ Jared on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mcjaredmadsen