You’ve probably heard the saying “the pen is mightier than the sword,” but have you heard of paper armor being stronger than metallic protective clothing? It goes against everything we’ve learned about warfare; whereby burly warriors are usually clad in steel or iron plate armor. But according to ancient Chinese records, using paper armor was sometimes deemed the superior option.
Papermaking originated in China 2,000 years ago during the Eastern Han period. The Chinese eunuch Cai Lun is credited with the invention, though examples of earlier, more primitive, paper have been found. Paper was a game-changing invention, providing a more practical writing surface than bamboo, wood or silk. In addition to its obvious uses, the Chinese even used it to make paper armor.
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