Put on Paper: Paper-making inventor remembered 2,000 years after

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Paper came into existence around 100AD, invented by a court eunuch named Cai Lun. He didn't have any children, but the ancient craft and the man himself have been well-remembered, and become a very big part of his birthplace. CGTN's Sun Ye has the report from Leiyang, Hunan province.

LIU JUNYANG is a fourth generation paper-maker. He makes a living this way, as much of his family always has. And the way he does it now, is EXACTLY how his hometown hero, Cai Lun, laid down 2000 years ago.

LIU JUNYANG CAILUN PAPER-MAKING CRAFT INHERITOR "It has 9 steps altogether. And it takes 4 months if you count from felling the trees for fibre."

It's called "Cai Lun style paper-making", and it's a national intangible heritage craft. As for the local brand of paper created by the process, it also bears the inventor's name.

LIU JUNYANG PAPER-MAKING CRAFT INHERITOR "Made with local bamboo, Cai Lun paper is the best for calligraphy writing. It lasts long and fends off worms."

You can buy and keep this paper as a souvenir, but most in the area honor the inventor in other ways.

SUN YE LEIYANG "Cai is believed to be the first to discover mulberry leaves, fishnets and old rags can be melded into paper. And many credit him for things like notepads, printouts and even paper money."

Paper-making is cheap and easy thanks to him. And in Cai Lun's center of town memorial hall, he's honored with precious copies of poetry, paintings and books. A culture that's partly indebted to him, according to veteran researcher CAI DECHU.

CAI DECHU (not related) CAI LUN RESEARCHER "I would say paper-making is the most important of China's four great inventions. If you don't have paper, the Chinese art of printing would not be possible."

People from all around the country come to visit Cai's memorial hall.

CAI DECHU (not related) CAI LUN RESEARCHER "We Chinese always look up to and remember those who made great contributions to society, so Cai still plays a big role in today's Leiyang."

As for Liu, among the few who are carrying on the trade, he says he'll keep making new racks of paper in this very old, time-honored way. SY, CGTN, HUNAN PROVINCE