| Period |
Main process and characteristics |
The main purpose |
Main papermaking raw materials in northern China |
Main paper varieties in northern China |
Main papermaking raw materials in the South |
Main paper varieties in the South |
| Initial stage The Eastern Han Dynasty—Sui Dynasty |
Cai Lun invented paper with rags, fishing nets, and hemp materials. The paper has larger fiber particles, and the paper is not white enough. |
Record：Books etc. Cultural：Sacrifice etc. |
Hemp pulp Ramie pulp |
Yellow jute paper Pale yellow jute paper |
Hemp |
No clear evidence |
| Interim Sui Dynasty—Ming Dynasty |
1. Animal glue is added to the pulp, and the toughness of the paper is increased. 2. Large-scale papermaking curtains; the size of the paper becomes larger. 3. Paper medicine is a kind of plant medicine that does not cause the paper fibers to stick to each other. |
Books, memorials, notes, scriptures, etc. Cultural paper: calligraphy and painting, sacrificial paper Craft paper: paper fan, paper umbrella, kite, paper cut, etc. Tissue paper: toilet paper, medical packing paper |
Castor flax Abutilon Kenaf Chuan Bark Mulberry Bark |
White linen paper Oily linen paper Paper Mulberry Paper Extra clean leather |
Qingtan leather Vine Bark Rui Xiangpi Ci bamboo Yellow bamboo Green bamboo |
Paper mulberry paper Green sandalwood paper Jiajiang paper Lian Shi Zhi Yuan paper |
| Late stage Ming Dynasty—Qing dynasty |
The book of " Chinese Technology in the Seventeenth Century" determines the papermaking process of traditional Chinese handmade paper. |
Recording paper: books, memorials, notes, scriptures, letters, etc. Cultural paper: calligraphy and painting, sacrificial offerings, Craft paper: paper fan, paper umbrella, kite, paper cut, etc. Tissue paper: toilet paper, medical paper. |
Jute Paper mulberry Mulberry Bark |
Cotton material Xuan paper； Net leather paper； Cloud Xuan Paper； Paper mulberry paper； |
Paper mulberry; Qingtan leather; Bamboo; Bitter Bamboo; |
Paper mulberry paper； Green sandalwood paper Jiajiang paper Lian Shi Zhi Yuan paper |
