Paper-making in China began in between 200 BC and 100 AD. In about 200 BC, the Chinese were using paper for wrapping packages. Writing on paper probably began around 8 BC, as paper has been discovered with Chinese writing on it dating from that time. In 105 AD, a man named T'sai Lun made a piece of paper out of plant fibers, old rags, and fishnets, and by about 200 AD, paper was beginning to be widely used for writing. Toilet paper began to be used around 500 AD.
In Europe in 600 AD, however, paper was not even widely used as a writing medium, let alone for waste. Paper was not widely manufactured in Europe until around 1000 AD. Italy and Germany began to produce paper on a large scale in about 1200 AD and 1400 AD, respectively.
Paper was, at first, a long process. It involves making a pulpy solution of plant or cloth fibers and spreading it on a screen, then allowing it to dry. Then it is sometimes rolled flat and smooth. In Europe, it was made by hand until approximately 1800, when the Fourdrinier machine was developed to mass-produce paper in rolls.
When paper is scarce, it's treated as a precious possession. When it begins to be mass-produced, however, it becomes less cherished. Today, we tend to forget how much paper really means. We use it for everything- taking notes, reading books, wiping up spills (paper towels), and making paper airplanes. With abundance comes a forgetting of the importance of an object. Do we treat words the same way?
I think that it can be easy to forget the power or beauty of words. Usually, we just use the most direct choice of words to get our point across in the fastest way. Words can move people to action, love, desire and so much more. This is the written and spoken word, but isn't there something really touching about a thoughtful note written to you in someone's handwriting?
ReplyDeleteI think that it's really interesting that even before paper was widely used as a writing medium, the Chinese were using it as toilet paper. I think when something is easy to come by it is less appreciated, it's just thrown around. Like with money in the United States, many people don't really recognize and appreciate how affluent they are.
ReplyDeleteI also just wanted to say, as I read Emily's comment about reading a note in somebody's handwriting, that sometimes less is more. Sometimes, even when words are so few, they impact you the most.
ReplyDeleteI think the power comes in the way the words are arranged on the page (or in speech) combined with their meaning rather than just the meaning alone. For example, President Monson always reverses words, so that though they're the same words, they make a greater impact.
ReplyDeleteMadison, do you really think that many people don't appreciate money? Also, I think that just because the Chinese used paper and then disposed of it doesn't mean they didn't appreciate it. Personally I very much appreciate the paper in my life. Mostly this is because I appreciate the time that having disposable items saves. Maybe they wanted their time for other activities as well?
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