浅论中国造纸术起源争议的两大观点——基于出土纸状物是否为纸及其断代的视角

Discussion on the Two Controversies on the Origin of Chinese Papermaking Technology—Based on the Viewpoint of Whether Unearthed Paper-like Objects is Paper and Its Archaeological Date

关键词:  纸  起源  蔡伦  发明  改良  年代

Key Words:paper  origin  Cai Lun  invent  improve  age

摘要:蔡伦是纸的发明者亦或改良者，其争论古已有之。近几十年来，学者们从历史文献、考古实物、测试分析、模拟复原等方面对造纸术的起源进行了相当深入的研究。本文主要基于支持蔡伦发明造纸术的王菊华先生所主编的《中国古代造纸工程技术史》和支持蔡伦改良造纸术的潘吉星先生所著的《中国造纸史》中关于造纸术起源的相关研究，总结出了两个核心问题：出土纸状物是否为纸及其断代。笔者认为，若能在相关部门的大力支持下，多学科专家通力合作，应能更有力地推进这一研究。

Abstract:Cai Lun is the inventor or the improver of Chinese papermaking technology, that has been being a long-standing question since ancient times. In recent decades, many research on origin of papermaking have been done from aspects such as historical literatures, archaeological objects, scientific test, simulated restoration. In this paper, two core questions are summarized: whether the unearthed paper-like object is paper or not and its archaeological date, which are based on the relevant research in two books: An Engineering and Technology History of Paper Making of China (Edited by Wang Juhua, the supporter of the view that papermaking was invented by Cai Lun) and A History of Papermaking of China (Edited by Pan Jixing, the supporter of the view that papermaking was improved by Cai Lun). The article believes that if we can cooperate with the relevant departments and multidisciplinary experts, we should be able to promote this research more vigorously.