四大发明（2）
The Four Great Inventions（2）
人们普遍认为公元105年东汉时期的蔡伦是第一个造纸的人，
It was generally believed that paper was first made by a man called Cai Lun in 105 during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
但是，最近在新疆、山西和甘肃出土了西汉时期造的纸。
However, in recent decades, earlier paper made during the Western Han Dynasty was unearthed in Xinjiang, Shanxi and Gansu.
因此，我们有理由认为西汉时期就发明了造纸术，而东汉的蔡伦改进了这一技术。
So it is reasonable to believe that paper was invented in the Western Han and was improved by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han.
后来，人们利用不同的材料造纸，纸质越来越好，
In later periods, different materials were used for making paper, and its quality became better and better.
安徽宣州所产的著名的宣纸，最先出现于唐朝。
The famous Xuan paper, produced in Xuanzhou, Anhui Province, first appeared in the Tang Dynasty.
它的质量很好，因此，所有的书法家和画家都喜欢使用。
Its quality was so good that all calligraphers and painters liked to use it.
直至今天，人们仍认为宣纸最适于书法和国画。
Even today it is still considered the best kind of paper for calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting.
宋朝吋期，开始用竹子造纸，竹纸的产量迅速提高。
During the Song Dynasty， bamboo began to be used for making paper, and the output of bamboo paper increased rapidly.
751年，唐玄宗统治时期，造纸术传入阿拉伯，1150年又从阿拉伯传入欧洲。
In 751，during the reign of Tang Xuanzong, the Chinese technique of making paper was introduced to the Arab world, and from there to Europe in 1150.
也就是说，欧洲比中国晚了1000多年才知道怎样造纸。
In other words, Europe knew how to make paper about a thousand years late than China.