Cai Lun (Ts'ai Lun)

Cai Lun, also known as Ts’ai Lun, was a Chinese court official in the Han Dynasty credited with inventing and improving paper around 105 AD. His innovations involved using plant fibers like bamboo, hemp, and mulberry bark, combined with water, to produce a lightweight, durable sheet suitable for writing and printing. This invention revolutionized communication, record-keeping, and the dissemination of knowledge across Asia and eventually worldwide. Cai Lun’s work standardizes and popularizes paper production, making information more accessible and contributing significantly to cultural and technological development.