Cai Lun 蔡伦

蔡伦（公元61年—公元121年）字敬仲，汉族，东汉桂阳郡人。我国四大发明中造纸术的发明者、改进者，“影响人类历史进程的100名人”、“人类有史以来最佳发明家”之一。
Cai Lun (61 - 121), Han nationality, born in Guiyang prefecture during the Eastern Han Dynasty, is said to be the inventor of the papermaking process, one of the Four Wonders of China, also known as the The 100-A Ranking of the Most Influential People in History, and one of the “Best inventors in recorded history”. His courtesy name is Jingzhong.
永元四年（公元92年），蔡伦任尚方令后，利用供职之便，常到乡间作坊察看，受蚕妇启发，收集树皮、废麻、破布、旧鱼网等原料，试用植物纤维造纸，终于造出植物纤维纸。元兴元年（公元105年），他将造纸过程、方法写成奏章，连同造出来的植物纤维纸，呈报汉和帝，和帝大加赞赏，蔡伦造纸术很快传开。人们把这种纸称为“蔡侯纸”，全国“莫不从用焉”。
In 92 (the fourth year of Yongyuan Reign), Cai Lun paid frequent visits to the countryside workshops during his term as Shangfang Ling (an office in charge of manufacturing instruments and weapons). Inspired by women who raised silkworms, he finally produced a kind of paper using bast fibres, hemp waste, old rags, and fishnets. In 105 (the first year of Yuanxing Reign), Cai Lun submitted his paper-making method and pieces of paper to Emperor He of Han. His method was strongly lauded by Emperor He of Han and soon popularized. This kind of paper, known as Cai Hou Paper, was used across the country.
美国人麦克•哈特在《影响人类历史进程的100名人排行榜》中，将蔡伦排在第七位，远远排在我们熟知的哥伦布、爱因斯坦、达尔文之前。2007年，美国《时代》周刊评选和公布人类“有史以来最佳发明家”，蔡伦又榜上有名。2008年北京奥运会开幕式，特别展示了蔡伦发明的造纸术。
Cai Lun is ranked 7th by Michael Hart , an American in The 100-A Ranking of the Most Influential People in History, followed by household names, including Columbus, Einstein and Darwin. In 2007, Cai Lun was again listed as one of the “Best inventors in recorded history” by the American weekly Times. His paper-making process was specially displayed in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.