中國傳統文化 第11期:四大發明(2)

The Four Great Inventions（2）

四大發明（2）

It was generally believed that paper was first made by a man called Cai Lun in 105 during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

人們普遍認爲公元105年東漢時期的蔡倫是第一個造紙的人，

However, in recent decades, earlier paper made during the Western Han Dynasty was unearthed in Xinjiang, Shanxi and Gansu.

但是，最近在新疆、山西和甘肅出土了西漢時期造的紙。

So it is reasonable to believe that paper was invented in the Western Han and was improved by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han.

因此，我們有理由認爲西漢時期就發明了造紙術，而東漢的蔡倫改進了這一技術。

In later periods, different materials were used for making paper, and its quality became better and better.

後來，人們利用不同的材料造紙，紙質越來越好，

The famous Xuan paper, produced in Xuanzhou, Anhui Province, first appeared in the Tang Dynasty.

安徽宣州所產的著名的宣紙，最先出現於唐朝。

Its quality was so good that all calligraphers and painters liked to use it.

它的質量很好，因此，所有的書法家和畫家都喜歡使用。

Even today it is still considered the best kind of paper for calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting.

直至今天，人們仍認爲宣紙最適於書法和國畫。

During the Song Dynasty， bamboo began to be used for making paper, and the output of bamboo paper increased rapidly.

宋朝吋期，開始用竹子造紙，竹紙的產量迅速提高。

In 751，during the reign of Tang Xuanzong, the Chinese technique of making paper was introduced to the Arab world, and from there to Europe in 1150.

751年，唐玄宗統治時期，造紙術傳入阿拉伯，1150年又從阿拉伯傳入歐洲。

In other words, Europe knew how to make paper about a thousand years late than China.

也就是說，歐洲比中國晚了1000多年才知道怎樣造紙。