Pursue the evolution of packaging function and form (3)

4. The invention of papermaking and printing technology—the progress of packaging technology and materials

Papermaking is one of the four great inventions in ancient China. According to the records of Later Han Shu Cailun, the inventor of the paper is the eunuch Cai Lun. In fact, this is a mistake. As early as the first century of Cai Lun’s life, the paper was invented. Although this is not documented, it has been confirmed from archeological findings. In 1933, the paper of the 2nd century BC was found in Robbenhan, Xinjiang. In 1957, the same hemp paper was again unearthed in Yanqiao, the eastern suburbs of Xi'an. Cai Lun’s contribution to papermaking was mainly the use of low-cost raw materials such as rags and old fish nets, and improved some papermaking methods. Therefore, Cai Lun was a reformer and not an inventor of papermaking processes and raw materials.

In addition, in the four major inventions of ancient China, the invention of papermaking was highly controversial in the international academic community because in ancient Egypt, there was a type of papyrus used in the 13th and 14th centuries BC. "The paper writing instrument, it is nearly 1500 years earlier than Cai Lun invented the paper. However, I believe that Cai Lun made papers closer to modern papermaking technology in terms of craftsmanship and materials. Therefore, in this sense, it is reasonable to regard Cai Lun’s invention of papermaking as one of the major inventions of ancient China.

The emergence of paper has gradually replaced the previous costly packaging materials such as clams and brocades. In the "Han Zhao Queen's Biography", it is useful to record the use of Chinese traditional medicine. Since then, in commercial activities, paper has been used in the packaging of food, medicine, textiles, cosmetics, dyes, gunpowder, and salt. In addition, people continue to improve in papermaking, such as adding dyes, made of red packaging paper symbolizing auspicious and festive; plus wax made of oil-proof, moisture-proof packaging paper and so on.

By the 19th century, the papermaking technology had made great progress, making it possible to print in large numbers in a short period of time. The earliest papermaking machine was bought by Henry and sealy Fourdriner, a papermaker in London, England, in 1803. The Frenchman bought patents and asked experts and technicians to make great efforts to make it successful. From the 1806 report, at the time, only seven people were required to manually handle the raw material barrels at the time of the papermaking equipment. The machine weighed 264 pounds. By 1837, 41 people operated a machine and was reduced to 9 people. By 1860, the annual output of paper has reached 1,000 tons/high speed machine. The modern use of shredded wood pulp as raw material for making paper began only in the middle of the 19th century. Prior to this, the raw materials were made of flax, kapok, etc., and they were finished by boiling, smashing, and pulping. The paper was rough and therefore not suitable for color. print.

The earliest printing was also invented by China. With the invention of papermaking, as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was an early form of printing - rubbing. Now that there are many leaflets that remain in the past, they should be considered as early printing crystals. The development of printing began with the invention of engraving. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the technique of engraving and printing was quite superb. For example, one of the earliest carved prints in existence, the “Diamond Sutra” found in Dunhuang in 868 AD, with neat layout, graphic illustrations, and exquisite printing, reflecting the combination of printing technology and layout design. .

In the Song Dynasty, China's engraving and printing reached its peak, and many places formed large-scale printing centers. During this period, a large number of books and publications were printed and printed. Due to the development of commerce, the world’s earliest banknotes, the Jiaozi, have also appeared in wood engraving.

Printing is naturally applied to the design of packaging. For example, in the packaging paper, the trade name, slogan and auspicious designs have been quite common. Due to the fact that paper cannot be preserved for a long time, the earliest printed packing material in China is the wrapping paper of the Liujia needle shop in Jinan, Shandong Province in the Northern Song Dynasty. It has a four-inch square and a copper plate printing. In the middle is a rabbit's graphic mark. "White rabbits are in mind," and in the lower part there is an slogan, "Buying fine steel bars, making fine needles for kung fu, and not mistaken for the use of houses. The graphics are clear, the text is concise and easy to remember, already has the basic functions of modern packaging, in particular, reflects a clear promotional function.

Due to trade and war, especially the Crusade’s eastward march, China’s printing technology was spread to Europe. In 1243 AD, there appeared engravings in Europe, that is, the portrait of "St. Creston in Africa" ​​in Germany, which was 600 years later than the Chinese engraving printing. Around 1450, the German Gutenberg started to use lead type printing, which was also more than 400 years later than China's invented muddy type printing. Due to the small number of letters in the European language, the printing reform is much easier. Once the type of movable type printing appeared, it quickly spread in various European countries and was widely used. It played a very important role in promoting the development of European capitalist economy.

In the early 19th century, packaging technology rapidly incorporated printing technology that entered its heyday. The diversified needs of packaging development and the relationship with materials were not mentioned. The requirements for branding and printing on packaging were placed in front of them, glass bottles, and ceramic pots. Metal containers, cardboard boxes, wrapping papers, etc. all need to express their brand image on the outside to attract attention, convey commercial intentions, and increase the added value of products. Many phenomena did not envision, for example, when fine color printing was first applied to carton packaging, in the United States, a detergent factory used beautifully colored illustrations on its products. Some people have collected such packages, and their degree of concern has exceeded the care for the products themselves. As printing provides richness of expression, the intelligence and information of goods become more free and direct. The information transmission function on the packaging replaced the salesperson who had to master the product knowledge before, and it also made it possible to popularize the retail industry. Indeed, in modern times, there is a lack of circulation of local merchandise products compared with those in supermarkets.

(to be continued)