The Evolution Of Handicraft Papermaking In Modern China

From modern on, as of various factors, Chinese Papermaking developed differently in different areas, but its overwhelming majority did as follows: neither changing successfully to mechanized papermaking nor tending to wither away, tenaciously going between them but with traditional modes of production. In the course of industrialization at the early stage, Chinese paper industry developed in two types of model , i.e. a little mechanized papermaking factories and much more household handicrafts . As the other traditional industrials, it had become an amphibious industrial including them. But the majority is household handicraft papermaking which presented too many traditional factors mingling with less modern ones in productivity and system of management. In modern China, Jiajiang county's handicraft papermaking in the Western China was just this typical example.Based on analyzing its cause of rise, process of development, economical significances ,feature of management and plight for transforming from historical, geographical, economical and sociological points of view, this thesis is composed of some following aspects:First, it depended on different elements including good nature and human environment, abundant natural resources, creative skills, double-fold requirements why Jiajiang county's handicraft papermaking had become a prolonged, famous and important industrial.Second, Jiajiang county's handicraft papermaking flourished in the earlier stage of Qing Dynasty, developed slowly in the late Qing Dynasty ,went downhill before the War of Resistance Against Japan, glorified transiently during the War , declined quickly after the War. In this process, it revealed mutual alteration between booming and declining, always Changing but vitally.Third, Jiajiang county's handicraft papermaking had important effects on local material life- custom and culture, social economy and so on,but especially had much more important influences on local economy. As a main industrial, it had accelerated local commodity economy and possessed vital economical status including effects on other industrials. In management, it almost adopted household production by hand, its products were sold within and beyond Sichuan province by businessmen as go-betweens ,and it had become the structure of "Small commodity ,Large circulation ".Its other traits as follows: comparatively traditional productive skills, very decentralized management, very small scale; already hiring hands but not popular , commercial capital getting in everywhere;, within the county,.circulation popular with dealing in future.Handicraft papermaking in Jiajiang county(Sichuan) were countered with different kinds of plights, such as techniques, capital , system and surroundings, which made it not to be able to go beyond traditional productive pattern of handicraft industry .But it existed until now. This illustrates the following points :the handicrafts in modern China developed along various roads, not all had to be changing into mechanized industries. Some of them had its ration for existence and development in the countryside of China.