Cai Lun

Cai Lun was a Chinese eunuch who served as a court official of the Eastern Han dynasty. He is traditionally credited with the invention of paper and the modern papermaking process, which he reported to the emperor in 105 CE. He used various materials, such as bark, hemp, rags, and fishnets, to make pulp and form sheets of paper. His invention greatly improved the efficiency and accessibility of writing and recording information in China and later in the world. He also oversaw the production of weapons and instruments at the imperial workshop and was a political counselor to the emperor. He was wealthy and influential, but he fell out of favor after the death of Emperor He in 106 CE. He was accused of corruption and involvement in a rebellion by his enemies. He committed suicide by poison in 121 CE to avoid arrest and execution. He was posthumously honored by the emperor and revered as a cultural hero by generations of Chinese people.